A callous and cold-blooded murderer who attempted to cover-up his crime by falsifying an online ‘live’ video stream as an alibi has today been informed he will spend no less than 31 years behind bars.
Disgraced former Assistant Audience Editor, Stephen McCullagh was found guilty of murdering his pregnant ex-partner Natalie McNally in March 2026.
McCullagh showed no emotion at the end of his trial as a jury of six men and six women unanimously found him guilty and Ms McNally’s loved ones started cheering in the packed public gallery of Belfast Crown Court.
Ms McNally was 32-years-old and 15 weeks pregnant when she was beaten, strangled and stabbed by the father of her unborn son in her Silverwood Green home in Lurgan between 8.50pm and 9.30pm on Sunday, December 18, 2022.
In a trial which spanned five weeks, the jury was presented with evidence which included CCTV, witnesses called to the box and social media messages.
The jury heard evidence from Ms McNally’s parents, her ex-boyfriend and also from a former partner of McCullagh’s who recalled how he slapped and punched her in his car following a row they had after he found sexual messages with another man on her phone.
It also emerged during the trial that McCullagh recorded a counselling session she had in his home following the loss of their child, which she didn’t know was being recorded.
The 12 members of the jury were also played sections of a so-called live stream which McCullagh used as an alibi to both the police and Ms McNally’s family in the aftermath of the murder he committed.
Entitled ‘The Violent Night Christmas Live Gaming Stream’, it appeared on McCullagh’s YouTube channel between 6pm and midnight on Sunday 18 December 2022.
The jury also heard the 999 call McCullagh made the evening after he murdered her where he told the operator, “She’s cold,” and “There’s blood everywhere.”
Trial judge, Mr Justice Kinney imposed a life sentence on McCullagh on the day of his conviction with a minimum tariff to be set.
That minimum tariff has today been determined at Belfast Crown Court and states that McCullagh will spend no less than 31 years in prison.
Mr Justice Kinney, outlining the “starting points” for sentencing and “guidance” given to sentencers explained the minimum tariff could be anywhere from 12 years to 20 years depending on culpability and features of a given case.
Passing the minimum tariff, the judge said: “In this case, I am satisfied that the nature and extent of the injuries sustained by Natalie McNally at the time of her death clearly require the higher starting point.”
Said the judge: “You attacked someone you professed 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 as evidenced by the extensive planning leading up to the murder and your actions afterwards.
“Your behaviour towards the McNally family showed your absolute determination to cover your tracks.
“I am satisfied that a very substantial increase in the starting point is required in this case. I have considered any possible double counting arriving at my conclusions and have taken into account the aggravating factors which are significant in their volume and also the high level of harm and culpability your represent.
“Your culpability in this case is exceptionally high and there’s many outstanding features that make this far more serious than most cases of murder.
“I am satisfied that the term I must impose in this case is 31 years.”
McCullagh must now serve the minimum term before he can be considered for release by parole commissioners.
‘She’s cold’: Audio recording of Natalie McNally killer’s 999 call released for the first time
Warning: The 999 call below contains sensitive and distressing information.
Police statement following the sentencing of Stephen McCullagh
Stephen McCullagh appeared before Belfast Crown Court today, 3 June 2026, for the murder of Natalie McNally in Lurgan in 2022.
The 36-year-old had been given a life sentence in March, after a jury unanimously found him guilty of Natalie’s murder.
Today, McCullagh was told he will serve a minimum of 31 years in prison.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Natalie McNally was 32 years old when she was murdered in her own home.
“This young woman – a much-loved daughter and sister – was 15 weeks pregnant, and excited to be planning the rest of her life as a mother.”
Detective Chief Inspector McGuinness continued: “McCullagh travelled to Natalie’s home in Lurgan on the night of Sunday 18 December, the week before Christmas.
“Here, he carried out a sustained and shockingly violent attack, which took Natalie’s life and that of her unborn son.
“Having returned to his Lisburn home, McCullagh revisited the address some 24 hours later, whereupon, pretending to have just discovered the tragic scene, he phoned the Ambulance Service. Here, and for the weeks that followed, he masqueraded as a distraught and caring partner.”
Detective Chief Inspector McGuinness continued: “Stephen McCullagh was arrested at the scene and initially released. After a painstaking and largescale investigation, which included hundreds of house-to-house enquiries and an examination of thousands of hours of CCTV footage, he was re-arrested and charged.
“This was an attack that sent shockwaves right across the community. Not only was it distressingly brutal in nature, it was meticulously and coldly premeditated.
“McCullagh had devised an alibi, seemingly livestreaming for six hours on a social media platform at the time of Natalie’s murder. In reality, he had walked some distance from his home and taken a bus to Lurgan – all the while concealing his appearance – in order to carry out his attack.
“Thanks to the efforts and expertise of our Cyber Crime officers, irrefutable evidence was obtained to show that this footage had in fact been pre-recorded several days earlier.
“Today, thanks to the collective efforts of our Major Investigation Team and policing teams across the Police Service, and working in partnership with the Public Prosecution Service, the defendant has been held to account.
“At the same time, a loving family are left with unimaginable heartache. They have lost their beloved Natalie and the baby boy they so dearly wanted to welcome into their family.
“Somehow, amidst their sorrow, they have managed to show the most incredible dignity and strength, right throughout our investigation. Their kindness is in stark contrast to the cruelty, and calculated web of deceit spun by McCullagh.”
The detective referred to a “tragic case of domestic homicide”.
He added: “Sadly, we know that domestic abuse can take many forms, and we know that it can affect anyone. In this case, an appalling and ultimate act of violence has taken a young woman’s life.
“As a victim-focused organisation, violence against women and girls is a priority for us. It can’t be and won’t be tolerated.
“While we, along with partners, will continue to speak out and do everything in our power to tackle this issue, it’s noteworthy and commendable that the McNally family have also found the strength to speak out, not only about their own tragic circumstances, but about the issue as a whole.”
He concluded: “As we leave court today, my thoughts and those of the team remain firmly with Natalie’s loved ones.”
