Stephen McCullagh, 36, was sentenced to 31 years in prison at Belfast crown court for the murder of his pregnant partner, 32-year-old Natalie McNally, in March 2026 [1, 2, 3]. McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant, was killed at her home in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, on December 18, 2022 [1, 2, 3].
The court heard that McCullagh staged an elaborate plan to cover up the killing by playing a prerecorded six-hour YouTube livestream of himself playing the video game Grand Theft Auto, which was recorded four nights before the murder, to create a false alibi that he was at home gaming at the time [1, 2, 3]. He also wore a disguise and gloves during the attack to avoid detection [1, 2, 3].
Judge Kinney described the murder as cold-blooded, calculated, brutal, frenzied, and excessive in violence. The assault involved stabbing, strangling, and bludgeoning [1, 2, 3]. The judge said, "You planned this murder in remorseless detail. You attacked someone you profess to love in a frenzied assault, which was characterised by its excessive and gratuitous violence. Despite that frenzy, the killing was cold-blooded and calculated." He added, "The fake stream was a key part of the murder plan." [1, 2]
McCullagh attempted to shift blame onto a previous boyfriend and maintained contact with McNally’s family, feigning grief after the murder [1, 2, 3]. The court also heard that McCullagh intended to kill the unborn child and humiliatingly placed McNally’s face in a dog bowl as part of the attack [1, 2]. Catherine Kierans, assistant director of the Public Prosecution Service, called it "an elaborate charade" and said she had never seen a domestic murder case with such levels of premeditation and planning, including forensic awareness and framing an ex-partner [1].
Natalie McNally’s father, Noel McNally, said the family asked for privacy as they continue to grieve after "unimaginable pain" over the past three and a half years [2].
McCullagh showed no emotion during the sentencing hearing in March 2026 [1, 2].
