Stephen McCullagh Guilty of Natalie McNally Murder

Stephen McCullagh, 36, from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, County Antrim, has been found guilty of the murder of Natalie McNally, 32, who was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. The verdict was delivered on Monday, March 23, 2026, at Belfast Crown Court, with the jury reaching a unanimous decision after two hours of deliberation. McCullagh will face a life sentence, with the minimum tariff to be determined at a later date.

Timeline of Events

Natalie McNally was stabbed to death at her home in Silverwood Green, Lurgan, County Armagh, on the night of Sunday, December 18, 2022 [1]. Police were called to the scene around 10 pm and discovered her body [1]. A post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered multiple stab wounds, severe beatings, facial fractures, and broken bones in her neck [2]. There were no signs of forced entry, suggesting McNally knew her attacker [1].

The Trial and Evidence

During the five-week trial, the prosecution presented evidence that McCullagh had repeatedly lied and fabricated an alibi, claiming he was live streaming on YouTube at the time of the murder [2]. The jury was told to determine if the prosecution had proven McCullagh’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt [2].

The defense argued that evidence pointed to another potential suspect – McNally’s former boyfriend, who testified as a prosecution witness [2]. However, the judge reminded the jury that the former boyfriend was not the defendant and should not be the focus of their deliberations [2].

Relationships and Communications

Evidence presented during the trial revealed Natalie McNally had been in contact with a former boyfriend up until the day of her death. Messages between them were described as sexually explicit and focused on the failure of their relationship [2]. The former boyfriend testified that he and Natalie had last been sexually intimate around October 2022 [2]. Natalie was also in contact with other men between June and December 2022, with some messages relating to her pregnancy and potential meetups [3].

The couple had met on the dating app Bumble and, after a few dates, their relationship developed. By October 2022, Natalie was 15 weeks pregnant [3]. They discussed moving in together and spending Christmas with Natalie’s family, referring to the unborn child as “Baby Squish” [3].

Reaction to the Verdict

Family and friends of Natalie McNally expressed relief and emotion following the guilty verdict, cheering and embracing in the courtroom. Judge Patrick Kinney praised their dignity throughout the proceedings [4]. The jurors were also commended for their diligence and commitment and were excused from future jury service due to the distressing nature of the trial [4].