Sunday Evening Before Tragedy
On Sunday, 18 December 2022, Lionel Messi was seen lifting the World Cup trophy on television as Natalie McNally watched with delight. A devoted fan of the Argentinian footballer, the 32-year-old was in her parents' living room after enjoying a roast chicken dinner. Christmas was just a week away.
Natalie was 15 weeks pregnant and had plans to name her baby son Dean. However, within hours, she was fatally attacked by her partner, Stephen McCullagh, the father of her unborn child. She suffered fatal injuries from beating, strangulation, and stabbing.
Final Words and Family's Quest for Justice
"She was so happy that night," her mother Bernie recalled in January 2023.
"She said: 'Mummy, I'll see you on Monday or Tuesday.' And that was her last words to me."
McCullagh’s conviction on Monday marked the conclusion of the McNally family’s three-year pursuit of justice.
A Close-Knit and Protective Family
The McNally family’s unity in grief and determination to seek justice reflected the closeness they shared during Natalie’s life.
When Natalie said goodbye to her family that night, she traveled a short distance to her home in Silverwood Green, a red brick townhouse symbolizing her successful career in the marketing department of bus and train operator Translink.
However, it was her parents Bernie and Noel’s home where the family typically gathered, and where she regularly saw her brothers Niall, Declan, and Brendan.
"We went to concerts together, we went to football matches and Gaelic (football) matches together," said Declan.
"We loved all of them and maybe didn't appreciate how special they were."
Fond Memories and Family Bonds
Her brother Niall, in an initial plea for information after her death, spoke of how they called her "Nats" and, as the only girl among boys, they treated her like a princess.
He expressed concern for her due to her lifelong battle with diabetes, describing how they supported her as if she were "a precious egg."
Brendan, speaking at a rally in her honor at Lurgan Park, conveyed the family’s pride in Natalie’s achievements.
"She'd earned two degrees, had a successful career, lived independently, had her own network of friends and looked after scores of cats and dogs," he told the crowd.
Rally and the Hidden Killer
The rally on 28 January 2023 took place just over a month after Natalie’s death, at a time when no one had yet been charged with her murder.
Unbeknownst to many, Stephen McCullagh was present at the rally and had compiled a montage of home videos of Natalie, which were displayed on large screens.
In the weeks following her murder, McCullagh frequently visited the family home and deliberately left his phone there, recording conversations in an attempt to gather information.
He became part of the inner circle of grief as the investigation and police manhunt dominated news coverage.
During this six-week period, Natalie’s family and friends gave emotional interviews to the media, hoping to maintain focus on the investigation and encourage anyone with information to come forward.
Through tears, Bernie said: "She was my best friend and I don't know how do we go on without her. How do we go on?"
There were arrests and releases, interviews, rallies, and appeals. Natalie’s image was displayed at games of her favorite sports teams, Everton and Armagh GAA.
Police Investigation and CCTV Evidence
As weeks passed, police built their case with a strong focus on CCTV footage.
Among 3,000 hours of footage seized, investigators identified a figure traveling by bus from near McCullagh’s home to Lurgan. The individual wore dark clothing, gloves, a hat, and carried a bag, with his lower face covered.
A key moment showed the man boarding the bus in profile, which convinced police it was Stephen McCullagh.
Additional footage showed a man entering Natalie’s development and later walking away from her residence, believed to be wearing a hat and wig.
It appeared McCullagh intended to catch the last train but missed it, instead taking a taxi to his own front door.
This detailed compilation of footage enabled police to arrest McCullagh a second time and seize his computer. He had been initially arrested at the crime scene but was released.
Forensic analysis revealed that McCullagh’s claimed alibi—a six-hour video game live stream on the night of the murder—was not live but pre-recorded days earlier.
His plan was unraveling.
Arrest, Conviction, and Family Tribute
Three days after the Lurgan Park rally where McCullagh stood alongside the McNally family, his house was raided. Two days later, he was charged with murder.
He had deceived everyone until the evidence exposed him.
Despite this, the pace of Northern Ireland’s justice system meant the McNally family waited over three years for trial. The case was nearly delayed by a barrister’s strike but was exempted from industrial action.
Following McCullagh’s conviction, the family stood united outside the court, paying tribute to their beloved daughter and sister.
Declan said having Natalie in their lives was "the greatest joy they will ever have."
He added she would have been an amazing mother and that they would love her forever.
McCullagh’s sentencing is expected in May, but the impact of his crime on the family will endure indefinitely.
