Gamer's Livestream Alibi Unravels in Brutal Murder Case
Stephen McCullagh, a 36-year-old man from Lisburn, has been convicted of murdering his pregnant girlfriend Natalie McNally after attempting to use a meticulously pre-recorded gaming livestream as an alibi. The jury at Belfast Crown Court took just two hours to reach their verdict following a five-week trial that exposed a chilling plot.
The Virtual Alibi That Couldn't Hide Reality
On December 18, 2022, while Natalie McNally was being brutally attacked and killed at her Lurgan home, McCullagh appeared to be broadcasting a six-hour gaming session to his online audience. The stream, advertised as "The Violent Night Christmas Live Gaming Stream," showed McCullagh drinking alcohol and playing Grand Theft Auto while wearing a Santa hat.
During the broadcast, McCullagh made several telling statements. He joked about drinking and driving in the game while assuring viewers "I'm not leaving the house tonight." He discussed looking forward to Christmas with loved ones, saying "It'll be a really f****** good Christmas this year." As the stream progressed, he became increasingly aggressive, screaming "die, why won't you die" at game characters and describing himself as "pissed out of his tits."
The Police Service of Northern Ireland's cyber crime unit discovered that the entire livestream had been pre-recorded on December 14, four days before the murder. Examination of McCullagh's devices revealed no user activity during the actual broadcast time, exposing the elaborate deception.
A Timeline of Deception and Violence
The relationship between McCullagh and McNally began in August 2022 when they connected on the dating app Bumble. Their courtship progressed rapidly, with McCullagh meeting McNally's family in October and the couple announcing McNally's pregnancy in November.
On the day of the murder, a detailed sequence of events unfolded:
- 4:00 PM: McCullagh advertised his "live" gaming session on YouTube
- 5:57 PM: He messaged McNally saying he was "off to stream the night away"
- 6:00 PM: The pre-recorded stream began while McCullagh's phone became inactive
- 6:36 PM: CCTV captured a man matching McCullagh's description near his home
- 7:36 PM: Bus CCTV showed a man traveling from Dunmurry to Lurgan
- 8:24 PM: McNally logged into YouTube to watch part of the stream
- 8:51 PM: McCullagh entered McNally's house
- 9:31 PM: He left the property
- 11:12 PM: A taxi arrived at McCullagh's home where he was seen discarding items
- 11:16 PM: McCullagh's phone became active again
The Aftermath and Investigation
McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant, suffered what prosecutor Charles MacCreanor KC described as a "horrendous beating" including three stab wounds to the neck, multiple traumatic blows to her head, and injuries consistent with throttling and choking.
McCullagh initially told police he was livestreaming during the murder and suggested McNally's ex-boyfriend might be responsible. When asked directly if he had anything to do with her death, he repeatedly responded "no comment" despite his solicitor's encouragement to answer.
In a shocking twist, McCullagh attended McNally's wake on Christmas Day and later visited her family home in January 2023, where he accidentally left his phone behind and recorded 39 minutes of the family's private conversation. He also attended a memorial rally for McNally where a video montage he created was played, describing him as "Natalie's loving partner."
The Confession and ConvictionAfter his re-arrest in January 2023, McCullagh eventually admitted in a pre-prepared statement that he had pre-recorded the gaming footage. He claimed the true killer had "left a clear circumstantial trail to link me to the murder."
The jury of six men and six women returned their guilty verdict on March 23, 2026. McCullagh stood without expression in the dock as the verdict was read, while McNally's family and friends cheered from the public gallery.
This case represents one of the most sophisticated attempts to use digital technology to create a false alibi, demonstrating how cyber crime investigation techniques are becoming increasingly crucial in modern criminal prosecutions.
