LURGAN, Northern Ireland — In a unanimous verdict that brought a wave of raw emotion to a packed courtroom, Stephen McCullagh, 36, has been found guilty of the cold-blooded murder of his pregnant partner Natalie McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant with their child at the time of her savage killing in December 2022.

The jury at Craigavon Crown Court delivered the devastating decision after deliberating for just over four hours on March 23, 2026. McCullagh showed no visible reaction as the foreman announced “guilty” on the single count of murder. Gasps and quiet sobs echoed through the public gallery as relatives of Natalie McNally embraced one another in a mixture of relief and overwhelming grief.

Natalie McNally, a vibrant 29-year-old woman described by loved ones as “full of life and laughter,” was brutally murdered in her own home in the quiet Silverwood area of Lurgan on the night of December 18, 2022. She was 15 weeks pregnant with the couple’s first child — a baby girl they had already begun planning a future for.

Prosecutors told the court that McCullagh carried out a ferocious and sustained attack on Natalie in the living room of her home. She suffered multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma before being left to die. The attack was so violent that it shocked even seasoned detectives who had investigated countless murders in Northern Ireland.

The trial heard harrowing evidence about the final hours of Natalie’s life. McCullagh had been in a volatile on-off relationship with her and was said to have flown into a rage during an argument. After the killing, he attempted to cover his tracks by staging elements of the scene and later gave inconsistent accounts to police when questioned.

Forensic evidence, including DNA, blood spatter analysis, and CCTV footage from the surrounding area, played a crucial role in dismantling McCullagh’s defence. The jury heard how he had lied repeatedly about his movements on the night of the murder and how his behaviour in the days following the killing raised serious suspicions.

The most heartbreaking detail that emerged during the trial was the loss of Natalie’s unborn daughter. Medical experts confirmed that the baby was alive at the time of the attack. The double loss — both mother and child — turned what was already a horrific domestic murder into an unimaginable tragedy that has haunted the local community ever since.

Detectives described the case as one of the most distressing they had ever worked on. “Natalie was a young woman looking forward to becoming a mother,” one senior officer said after the verdict. “She had her whole life ahead of her. To have that taken away in such a brutal manner, along with the life of her unborn child, is something that stays with you.”

The courtroom was packed with Natalie’s family and friends as the verdict was delivered. Many broke down in tears, some openly sobbing as the reality that justice had finally been served began to sink in. Natalie’s mother, who had attended every day of the trial, was comforted by relatives as she left the court building.

McCullagh, who had maintained his innocence throughout the trial, is expected to be sentenced in the coming weeks. He faces a mandatory life sentence, with a minimum tariff to be set by the judge based on the aggravating factors of the case — including the fact that he murdered a pregnant woman and their unborn child.

The conviction brings to an end a long and painful chapter for Natalie’s family, who have waited more than three years for justice. In statements released after the verdict, they described Natalie as a kind, loving, and joyful young woman who was “excited beyond words” about becoming a mother.

“She had so much love to give,” her family said. “Her little girl was going to be the centre of her world. Stephen McCullagh didn’t just take Natalie from us — he took our granddaughter too. Today we finally have justice, but nothing will ever bring them back.”

The case has also shone a harsh light on the issue of domestic violence and femicide in Northern Ireland. Campaigners have used the high-profile conviction to renew calls for better protection for vulnerable women and stronger support systems for those living with coercive or abusive partners.

As McCullagh awaits sentencing, the focus now turns to ensuring that Natalie McNally and her unborn daughter are never forgotten. Plans are already underway for a permanent memorial in Lurgan to honour their memory and to serve as a reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence.

A young mother full of hope. An unborn baby girl who never got the chance to take her first breath. A family left shattered by a brutal act of violence.

Stephen McCullagh has been found guilty — but for Natalie’s loved ones, no verdict can ever heal the wound left by the loss of two precious lives taken far too soon.