Natalie McNally Murder Case: Stephen McCullagh, the YouTuber who created a fake Grand Theft Auto (GTA) livestream to cover up the murder of his pregnant girlfriend Natalie McNally, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 31 years.
The 36-year-old was handed the sentence at Belfast Crown Court after being found guilty earlier this year of murdering 32-year-old Natalie McNally at her home in Lurgan, County Armagh, in December 2022. McNally was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
Natalie McNally Murder Case: Fake GTA Livestream Used as Murder Alibi
During the sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Kinney described McCullagh’s actions as a “cold-blooded and calculated” murder that was planned in extensive detail.
A key part of the prosecution’s case centered on a six-hour gaming livestream that McCullagh claimed proved he was online and playing video games when the killing occurred. However, digital forensic experts later discovered that the footage had actually been recorded four days earlier and broadcast as if it were live on the night of the murder. The judge ruled that the fake GTA livestream was an “integral” part of McCullagh’s murder plan, designed to provide him with a complete alibi while he carried out the attack.
Natalie McNally Murder Case: Brutal Attack Claimed Two Lives
Justice Kinney described the killing as a “brutal and frenzied attack” that resulted in the deaths of both Natalie McNally and her unborn child. “The defendant did not just kill Natalie McNally; her unborn child also died as a result of the murderous assault,” the judge said during sentencing. The court heard that McCullagh was fully aware of McNally’s pregnancy and knew the unborn baby would have no chance of survival if she were attacked.
Natalie McNally Murder Case: Attempt to Shift Blame
Following the murder, McCullagh denied any involvement and allegedly sought to direct suspicion toward McNally’s former boyfriend. The court also heard how McCullagh spent time with Natalie McNally’s grieving family in the days after her death, presenting himself as devastated and heartbroken. According to the judge, family members comforted him during Natalie’s wake and allowed him private moments to mourn, unaware that he was responsible for her death.
Natalie McNally Murder Case: Judge Condemns “Remorseless” Planning
When announcing the sentence, Justice Kinney said McCullagh’s culpability was “extremely high” due to the level of planning involved before and after the murder. “You planned this murder in remorseless detail,” the judge told McCullagh.
He added that the sentence could never truly reflect the value of Natalie McNally’s life or that of her unborn son, Dean, nor adequately address the grief suffered by her family.
Natalie McNally Murder Case: Family Watches Sentence Handed Down
There was silence inside the courtroom as McCullagh received his sentence. Members of Natalie McNally’s family and friends filled the public gallery and watched as he was led away. After the hearing concluded, many relatives embraced one another as the courtroom doors closed behind the convicted killer.
The case has drawn significant attention across the United Kingdom and Ireland due to the shocking use of digital technology and a staged gaming livestream as part of a carefully orchestrated murder plot.
