The murder of a pregnant woman in County Armagh just a week before Christmas in 2022 has been characterised as "planned, calculated and pre-meditated" by prosecutors during a high-profile trial at Belfast Crown Court. Natalie McNally, aged 32, was 15 weeks pregnant when she was fatally attacked in her home in Lurgan, with the case now unfolding before a jury.
Defendant Denies Charges Amidst Serious Allegations
Stephen McCullagh, 36, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms McNally. He appeared in the dock on Monday morning, flanked by two prison guards, as the trial commenced. A jury comprising six men and six women has been sworn in to hear the evidence, with proceedings expected to last approximately five weeks under the oversight of Judge Mr Justice Patrick Kinney.
Prosecution Outlines a 'Planned and Calculated' Murder
Prosecuting barrister Charles MacCreanor KC presented the Crown's case, asserting that McCullagh murdered Ms McNally and then engaged in a deliberate act to conceal his involvement. "We say that this is a planned, calculated, pre-meditated murder by the defendant," Mr MacCreanor stated. "One which he hoped to get away with. Natalie McNally had suffered serious and multiple fatal injuries."
The cause of death was determined to involve compression of her neck, indicative of finger-tip grasping, alongside three stab wounds to the neck from a bladed weapon and five lacerations to the back, top, and right side of her head. These injuries, consistent with at least five heavy blows, were each potentially fatal on their own. Notably, Ms McNally was pregnant at the time, and McCullagh is identified as the father of her unborn child.
Timeline of Events and Alleged Deception
The estimated time of death falls between 8:50 PM and 9:30 PM on Sunday, December 18, 2022. McCullagh made a 999 call from Ms McNally's home in Lurgan around 10:00 PM the following day, December 19. According to the prosecution, this call was "false, it's an act, it's put on by him, part of his plan to do the murder and get away with it."
Emergency services responded swiftly, with ambulance personnel and police arriving at the scene to find McCullagh with Ms McNally's body. She was discovered at the top of the stairs in the living area of her home, with visible injuries and blood present, clearly indicating an attack. Paramedics reported that McCullagh was performing CPR and appeared "quite visibly upset," while police described him as "distraught and overcome." However, prosecutors contend that this emotional display was "all part of an act, a front" to mask his culpability.
The trial continues as the jury examines the evidence surrounding this tragic and deeply disturbing case, which has captured public attention due to its pre-meditated nature and the loss of both a young woman and her unborn child.
