Convicted killer Stephen McCullagh has claimed he had no memory of the night his pregnant partner was murdered but described himself to a Probation Officer as “a monster.”
Natalie McNally was 32-years old and was 15 weeks pregnant with their unborn son Dean when she was beaten, strangled and stabbed by her partner her Silverwood Green home in Lurgan the evening of Sunday December 18, 2022.
McCullagh, from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, denied the murder charge and following a trial held at Belfast Crown Court, he was unanimously convicted by a jury of six men and six women.
He was back in court today where the murder he committed was described as “truly wicked and cruel” by Crown barrister Charles MacCreanor KC.
After listening to final oral submissions from both the Crown and defence, Mr Justice Kinney said he would impose the Tariff – the amount of time McCullagh has to spend in prison before he is considered eligible for release – on Wednesday, June 3.
Prior to this, the senior judge was told that following his conviction McCullagh spoke to a Probation Officer who then compiled a nine-page pre-sentence report.
Referring to the ‘offending analysis’ section of the report, Mr MacCreanor told Mr Justice Kinney that McCullagh initially claimed he had no memory of the night his pregnant partner was murdered in her own home.
McCullagh said he recalled starting a YouTube broadcast at 6pm, he said he was drinking and remembered looking at photographs of his deceased parents and his stillborn son with a previous partner.
He also claimed having a bath but had no memory until he woke the following morning – but acknowledged he ‘might have’ left his house.
In addition, McCullagh told Probation he was convinced he was not guilty of murder and was sure that McNally’s ex-boyfriend was responsible.
He also said that when the jury returned the guilty verdict so quickly, he only then began to suspect he must be responsible but was unable to make any sense of the offence.
McCullagh told Probation: “I don’t remember feeling the need for her to die, I’m not the type of person who seeks revenge.”
The court heard he described the murder as “horrible, evil and vicious” and referred to himself as a “monster.”
McCullagh also told Probation “I’m sorry for what I did to that poor family, what I did to Natalie and what I did to Dean. I would take it back in a heartbeat if I could.”
Mr MacCreanor described the contents of the report as “self-contradictory” and suggested elements of “manipulation.”
Saying there were “no mitigating factors in this case”, Mr MacCreanor instead highlighted several aggravating factors.
This, he said, included Ms McNally’s vulnerability of being pregnant and living alone.
Mr MacCreanor spoke of the “serious and extensive” injuries inflicted upon her, which amounted to 48 separate points of injury, as well being left face-down in a dog bowl.
Branding this as a “sign of callousness and wickedness”, Mr MacCreanor said this was “a gratuitous feature of punishment and humiliation.”
The prosecutor said another “serious” aggravating factor was that “not only did e her murder his partner, but also her unborn child.”
The prosecutor also spoke of McCullagh’s planning both before and after he killed Ms McNally including an “elaborate pretence” where he “cynically presented himself as a grieving partner” and “took advantage of her family’s “kindness.”
Mr MacCreanor said that whilst he accepted McCullagh had no criminal record, he highlighted a violent incident with a previous partner.
This, the Crown said, indicated McCullagh was “someone who had acted violently in a domestic setting.”
The senior prosecutor also spoke of the rates of femicide in Northern Ireland.
Pointing out 30 women have been violently killed here since 2020, Mr MacCreanor said: “As part of this blight that is ongoing in Northern Ireland, tragically two females have been killed during the span of this trial.”
Regarding the McNally family, Mr MacCreanor said they had written Victim Impact Statement and told Mr Justice Kinney: “The level and extent of the hurt and loss they have suffered is clearly apparent.”
He said that due to the multiple aggravating factors and McCullagh’s high culpability, the Tariff imposed should be between 27 and 35 years.
Defence barrister John Kearney KC then addressed the Judge and suggested the starting point for sentence was a lower tariff of around 15 years.
Mr Kearney accepted the contents of his client’s pre-sentence report were “self-contradictory”
The defence barrister also said there was “an absence of evidence” regarding both the alleged degradation and humiliation linked to the dog bowl and the accessing of Ms McNally’s phone prior to her being killed.
After listening to submissions from both the Crown and defence, Mr Justice Kinney said he wanted time to reflect on matters and said he would impose the Tariff upon McCullagh on June 3.
Following this, McCullagh was led from the dock by prison staff and back into custody.
