Stephen McCullagh Gets 31 Years for Killing Pregnant Natalie McNally After Fake 6-Hour YouTube Alibi
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 3
Stephen McCullagh Gets 31 Years for Killing Pregnant Natalie McNally After Fake 6-Hour YouTube Alibi
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 3
Summary
A judge sentenced Stephen McCullagh to a minimum 31 years for murdering Natalie McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant, after a jury convicted him in March following a five-week trial.
Police said McCullagh pre-recorded a 6-hour gaming stream and played it as if live, giving himself time to travel from Lisburn to Lurgan in disguise, kill McNally, and return before it ended.
The breakthrough came six weeks after his initial release, when CCTV linked a disguised bus passenger to the killer and cyber investigators found missing background data that exposed the broadcast as pre-recorded.
Prosecutors said the case had no DNA, eyewitness or confession, but combined CCTV, digital forensics, witness testimony and evidence that McCullagh tried to frame McNally's ex-partner and spy on her family.
The case also highlighted early investigative limits: YouTube initially confirmed the stream as live, and police later needed court approval to seize McCullagh's computer because it contained protected journalistic material.
A YouTuber faked a livestream for a murder alibi. What digital flaw exposed his perfect crime?
He secretly recorded his victim’s family at her wake. How did this killer's extreme deception lead to his conviction?
Justice for Natalie McNally: The Stephen McCullagh Case, Digital Deception, and the Broader Battle Against Violence Toward Women
Overview
In March 2026, Stephen McCullagh was sentenced for the murder of Natalie McNally, bringing the legal proceedings to a close and prompting strong reactions from both her family and the wider legal community. Outside the court, Noel McNally, Natalie's father, spoke about the deep and lasting pain his family has endured, expressing gratitude to supporters, the PSNI, and the prosecution service. He stressed that the sentencing was not a cause for celebration, as his family continues to suffer, and he hoped the outcome would help deter violence against women and girls in the future.