'You planned this murder in remorseless detail' says judge as he hands Stephen McCullagh minimum 31-year sentence
Convicted killer Stephen McCullagh murdered someone “he professed to love” in a “brutal and frenzied” attack, a crown court judge said as he handed down a minimum 31-year sentence.
McCullagh had been found guilty earlier this year of the "cold-blooded" murder of his pregnant partner Natalie McNally in Lurgan.
As he imposed the tariff on the 36-year old at Belfast Crown Court, Mr Justice Kinney told him to stand then said: "Stephen McCullagh, you have committed a brutal and senseless murder.
"You planned this murder in remorseless detail. You attacked someone you professed to love in a frenzied assault which was characterised by its excessive and gratuitous violence.
"Despite that frenzy, the killing was cold-blooded and calculated as evidenced by the extensive planning leading up to the murder and to your actions afterwards.
"Your behaviour towards the McNally family showed your absolute determination to cover your tracks.
"Offences of murder are always extremely serious and are heinous crimes at all times.
"Your culpability in this case is exceptionally high and has many outstanding features which mean it is far more serious than most cases of murder."
Natalie was 32 years old and 15 weeks pregnant with their unborn son Dean when she was beaten, strangled and stabbed by McCullagh in her Lurgan home in December 2022.
Saying the unborn child had no chance of surviving the fatal attack, Mr Justice Kinney said: "This was a deliberate, calculated and successful attempt to prevent the eventual birth of the child."
As Natalie's loved ones packed into the public gallery of the court, her murderer showed little emotion as the minimum term he will spend in prison before being considered eligible for release by the Parole Commissioners was imposed.
Paying tribute to Natalie, Mr Justice Kinney said he had formed his own picture of her.
He said: "It is one of a strong, loving, independent young woman.
"She knew what she wanted from life and enjoyed her own life on her own terms. She was intelligent, compassionate and funny."
The judge also paid tribute to the McNally family for the integrity and dignity they have displayed throughout the judicial proceedings.
He said: "Their demeanor was nothing short of exemplary and they eluded a quiet dignity throughout the trial ... and were an essential part in ensuring justice was obtained for Natalie."
Branding the murder as "brutal and frenzied", Mr Justice Kinney said it involved "the use of a knife, some form of blunt instrument which caused the head injuries and also the neck compression."
The judge continued: "She was murdered by someone she trusted. She was murdered by the father of her unborn child. Indeed, her pregnancy contributed to her vulnerability.
"She lived alone and was murdered within what ought to have been the security and safety of her own home, a place of sanctuary to which the defendant had gained access on the night of the murder."
Mr Justice Kinney spoke of the "unnecessary and pointless degradation" of Natalie's body after her death which he said was "part of her punishment and humiliation”.
The judge also spoke of the death of her unborn son Dean and said: "The defendant did not just kill Natalie McNally. Her unborn child also died as a result of the murderous assault.
"The defendant was fully aware that Natalie was pregnant. He intended to kill her and he knew that her baby, at such an early stage of the pregnancy, would have no chance of surviving the attack.
"There is an emotional and moral gravity in deliberately and prematurely ending a pregnancy, especially, as in this case, a wanted pregnancy.
"The circumstances of the murder were exceptionally brutal, and I am satisfied that grave additional harm was caused by the loss of the pregnancy and of the unborn child."
---
Read more:
---
During the tariff hearing, Mr Justice Kinney spoke of the relatively short nature of the relationship between Natalie and McCullagh which appeared to be "normal" and "loving”.
The judge said that throughout this time, Natalie "maintained relationships" with a number of men including her ex-boyfriend Lewis Jones via social media and that McCullagh "appeared to be aware" of some of these messages.
Turning to the evening of the murder, Mr Justice Kinney said he was "satisfied beyond reasonable doubt" that McCullagh's creation of a so-called livestream was "an integral part" in his planning of the murder.
The judge highlighted McCullagh's attempts to avoid detection which included attempts to change his appearance on the night of the murder and the "manipulation" of his friends and Natalie's family in the aftermath.
Mr Justice Kinney also spoke of McCullagh pointing the finger of blame at an ex boyfriend of Natalie's and said: "He embarked upon a complex and determined plan to falsely incriminate an innocent person and maintained this façade throughout the trial."
At the conclusion of the five-week trial held earlier this year, the jury of six men and six women found McCullagh unanimously guilty of murder.
It took the 12 members just over two hours to reach the verdict and following this, McCullagh was handed a life sentence by Mr Justice Kinney.
McCullagh, from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, was back in the dock on Wednesday where the minimum 31-year tariff was imposed.
He was told by the senior judge that if he is ever released from custody "you will remain subject to the life sentence already imposed upon you for the remainder of your life which means that if necessary, you can be returned to custody at any time."
There was complete silence in the packed court as McCullagh was then handcuffed and led from the dock back and into custody by prison staff.