An ex-boyfriend of Lurgan woman Natalie McNally today (Monday) addressed the man accused of murdering her and said “you killed her”.
Ms McNally was 15 weeks pregnant when she was beaten, stabbed and strangled in her Silverwood Green home on the evening of Sunday December 18, 2022.
The father of her unborn child, 36-year old Stephen McCullagh from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, has been accused of and has denied her murder.
A trial centring on the murder of the 32-year old is now in its third week and a former boyfriend – whose name is the subject of a reporting restriction – was the latest witness called to give evidence.
Under questioning from Charles MacCreanor KC, the witness confirmed he and Ms McNally met on Tinder and that following this he moved into her house.
He said that after securing a flat, he moved out “after Covid” but said they “kept meeting up” on a regular basis.
When asked when his relationship with Ms McNally ended, the witness said she was his “best friend” and that the relationship “never ended, as far as friends went.”
He then confirmed that he started a new relationship with a woman who moved in with him and quickly became pregnant.
The witness was then asked about a series of messages exchanged between him and Ms McNally between the summer and December of 2022.
In these exchanges, which were via email and on WhatsApp, some of the messages were of a sexual nature.
The witness admitted sending and receiving messages with Ms McNally right up to the evening of her death.
He also admitted the last time he and Ms McNally were together sexually was around October 2022 in her house.
Mr MacCreanor then asked the witness “looking back on it now, how do you feel you treated Natalie at that time?”
He replied: “Heartbreaking. The last time I saw Natalie she was lying on her bed on her side. I could tell she was raging at me.
“I had come round and had sex, then I was away and I could tell she was … that memory of the last time seeing her, I wish it was something nicer than her looking annoyed at me, annoyed at herself.”
Saying he “wasn’t proud” of this last meeting and of the messages he sent, the witness said: “I definitely took advantage of Natalie, definitely. I feel horrible about it.”
After saying “Natalie really was my best friend”, the witness then looked at McCullagh as he sat in the dock and said “and you killed her”.
At this point Mr Justice Kinney told the witness to “calm down and answer the questions you are being asked please”.
The witness then continued and said he knew Ms McNally for four years and that there was “a lot more” to their relationship than text messages.
He added: “She was the nicest girl ever, she would have done anything for anybody. She helped me in so much and I feel horrible … I just wish I had been better to her. I definitely took advantage of Natalie and her good heart.”
Mr MacCreanor then asked the witness what he was doing on the evening of Sunday, December 18, 2022.
He recalled it being the evening of the World Cup Final and said that after he consumed Buckfast and beers, he fell asleep in his flat.
He also told the jury of six men and six women that his girlfriend had a video of him lying sleeping, and said “I never left my flat that night.”
The prosecutor also asked him about being arrested on suspicion of Ms McNally’s murder.
The witness confirmed he was interviewed by police on December 22, 2022 and asked what his aim was regarding Ms McNally, he said it was “to tell them as much as possible.”
He said that following his arrest “I knew I hadn’t done it” and he wasn’t worried as “the truth will always come out.”
At hearing.
More from the murder trial:
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‘He just kept howling and crying’: Best friend of murder accused tells court of call on night Natalie McNally was found dead
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Ex-partner tells court she was ‘slapped and punched’ by Natalie McNally murder accused during late-night car journey
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Natalie McNally trial: Mum breaks down in court as she recalls only daughter’s murder
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Man accused of murdering Natalie McNally told police ‘aggressive’ ex-boyfriend had been harassing her
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CCTV footage concerning ‘person of interest’ shown to jurors at Natalie McNally murder trial
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Cyber expert tells trial there was ‘extensive evidence’ live stream was pre-recorded
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YouTube ‘live stream’ made by man accused of Natalie McNally murder played for jury
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Natalie McNally subjected to ‘prolong assault’ and likely her unborn child ‘died as a result’, says pathologist
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Dog bowl beside head of Natalie McNally ‘almost like it had been used to collect the blood’, murder trial hears
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Constable ‘tried to console’ accused who was ‘distraught’ at scene
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Jury hears 999 call from man accused of killing pregnant partner
