The tragic murder of Natalie McNally, a 32-year-old pregnant woman from Lurgan, Northern Ireland, sent shockwaves across the nation in December 2022. Her accused partner, 34-year-old Stephen McCullagh, stands at the center of a chilling case involving manipulation, deceit, and a carefully constructed alibi.
Natalie McNally was 15 weeks pregnant when she was brutally murdered in her own home, sustaining multiple stab wounds, blunt force trauma, and neck compression. What makes this case even more disturbing is the elaborate lengths McCullagh allegedly went to in concealing his involvement.
The prosecution claims McCullagh created a “false alibi” by pre-recording a video game live stream and broadcasting it on YouTube during the murder. Text messages between the couple reveal that McCullagh deliberately led Natalie to believe he was at home, streaming live, when the attack occurred.
Even more damning, McCullagh’s internet searches just weeks prior raised eyebrows, featuring grim queries about methods of execution and pain thresholds in death. Adding to the complexity, McCullagh reportedly interacted with Natalie’s grieving family after the murder, presenting himself as innocent while covertly recording their conversations.
At a bail hearing in September 2024, the judge deemed McCullagh a “particularly manipulative individual” and denied his release due to the risk of interference with justice. The trial is set to begin in May 2025, and the case has sparked widespread discussions about domestic violence, media manipulation, and trust within relationships.
