Following the tariff hearing today (Wednesday), Natalie’s father Noel read a statement to the assembly media outside Belfast Crown Court on behalf of the McNally family.
Choking back his emotions, Mr McNally said: “Over the past three and a half years, our family have been through unimaginable pain and grief from the loss of our beautiful Natalie.
“We would just like to thank everyone who has helped us to get here today – all our family and friends, the whole community of Lurgan, Craigavon and throughout this country and beyond for all the kindness and support we have received.
“We would also like to thank the PSNI and the prosecution service for getting us to the conclusion here today.
“Today is not a celebration of the sentence handed down as Bernadette, my boys and myself are serving a life sentence since the murder of our beloved Natalie.
“But hopefully it will serve as a deterrent to help stop violence against women and girls in this country.
“With respect, we are now asking for some privacy as we continue to grieve,” Mr McNally concluded.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness, the Senior Investigating Officer on the murder case, 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.
“McCullagh travelled to Natalie’s home in Lurgan on the night of Sunday, December 18, 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.”
DCI McGuinness added: “Stephen McCullagh was arrested at the scene and initially released.
“After a painstaking and large-scale 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 live-streaming 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 is 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.”
Catherine Kierans, the Head of the PPS Serious Crime Unit, who prosecuted the case, said: “Natalie McNally was a much-loved young woman whose life was full of promise.
“Stephen McCullagh, the father of her unborn baby, violently and senselessly took her life. Today marks the conclusion of proceedings to hold a cold and calculating murderer to justice.”
Ms Kierans commended the bravery of Natalie’s loved ones including her parents and brothers, who attended every court appearance.
“At the heart of this case is a family who have lost a loved one in the most horrendous circumstances, and I want to pay tribute to them.
“The dignified and respectful way in which they engaged with the criminal justice system, while also dealing with devastating loss and grief, is remarkable.
“I know this was not easy for them, but their courage and resilience are testimony to them as a family and their love for Natalie.”
Ms Kierans said the killing of Ms McNally was a “calculated and premeditated domestic murder”.
“McCullagh carefully planned the murder, going to great lengths to try to hide the fact that he alone was responsible.
“This included creating a false alibi several days before the murder by producing a six-hour YouTube stream that was presented as live on the night of the murder, but that police later determined had been pre-recorded.
“He also meticulously laid a false trail to Ms McNally’s ex-partner, telling several people that he was harassing Ms McNally, which was untrue.
“Having set up this deception, he wore a disguise to travel to Natalie’s home where he brutally beat, stabbed and strangled her. In the days and weeks after the murder, posing as a grieving partner, he manipulated his way into the company and trust of her heartbroken family.
“He has now been held to account for this vicious murder for which he has shown no remorse whatsoever.”
Ms Kierans said the prosecution team worked closely with police from the point of McCullagh’s second arrest on 31 January 2023, giving prosecutorial advice on the decision to charge him with murder.
She also commended the witnesses who came to “bravely” give evidence in court at the trial and thanked the jury for their service in unanimously convicting McCullagh of murder following a five-week trial.
Ms Kierans urged any victim of domestic abuse to seek help from someone they trusted or local organisations who offer help and advice.
She added: “Natalie’s murder was unprecedented in the level of planning and sophistication.
“However, it is far from an isolated event. Violence against women and girls is a pervasive issue in this society that we all must work together to tackle.
“Domestic abuse – which can take many, including subtle, forms – is a crime and should never be tolerated.
“Although women and girls are disproportionately affected, anyone of any gender can be a victim.
“We consider every case of domestic abuse we receive from police carefully, sensitively and objectively.
“Our prosecutors are trained to understand how complex domestic abuse can be, and the impact of trauma on victims and witnesses. Where we have sufficient evidence, we will prosecute perpetrators.
“This case is another reminder of the horrific scourge of violence against women and girls.
“Natalie’s family have bravely spoken out, not only about her murder, but this wider issue. Every victim is one too many.”
Concluding, Ms Kierans said: “The impact of this crime will stay with Natalie McNally’s family and friends for the rest of their lives.
“I hope the conclusion of these proceedings brings them some kind of comfort.”
