Natalie McNally: Stephen McCullagh pleads not guilty to murder

Image source, McNally family

Image caption, Natalie McNally was expecting a baby when she was killed in December 2022
  • Author, Cormac Campbell
  • Role, 成人快手 News NI south-east reporter

A man has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his pregnant partner, Natalie McNally, in her Lurgan home.

Stephen McCullagh, 33, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.

Standing in the dock in front of a public gallery filled with Ms McNally's family and friends, Mr McCullagh replied "not guilty" when the murder charge was put to him.

Ms McNally was 15 weeks pregnant when she was killed in December 2022.

After a police investigation Stephen McCullagh was charged with her murder in February 2023.

Image source, PAcemaker

Image caption, After a police investigation Stephen McCullagh was charged with Natlie McNally's murder in February 2023.

A request was made at Friday's arraignment hearing to hear the trial in Belfast due to the case being "heavily CCTV and technology based".

The court also heard that the trial will last between three and four weeks and will begin in September.

Mr Justice O'Hara told the court that this may not seem very fast at all for the friends and family of Ms McNally or for the defendant.

"It is now over a year since Ms McNally's death but a trial in September 2024 is as fast as we can arrange," the judge said.

The case will be reviewed in March.