The contents of messages exchanged between Natalie McNally and three men were read to a jury at her murder trial today (Friday).
The 32-year old was 15 weeks pregnant when she was beaten, stabbed and strangled in her Silverwood Green home in Lurgan on the evening of Sunday, December 18, 2022.
The father of her unborn child, 36-year old Stephen McCullagh from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, has been accused of and has denied her murder.
During the 14th day of a trial into her murder at Belfast Crown Court, a series of messages she exchanged with three men were presented to the jury.
In an exchange with a male referred to as ‘B’ which started just after midnight on December 16, 2022 she was asked if is she wanted to meet in Belfast for a drink.
Ms McNally replied that she was pregnant so ‘can’t have any pints’ and later described herself as ‘single and pregnant’ and that her family were ‘over the moon’.
An exchange with a male referred to as P, which started on June 12, 2022 and ran onto December 17, 2022 included images being sent.
Sections of this series of messages over that timeframe also with P included sexually explicit messages and videos.
On December 9, P messaged Ms McNally asking how she was. She replied about preparing for Christmas and when he asked if there was ‘any romancing’ she replied ‘quite a big bit of romancing’ and sent him an image of her baby scan.
P congratulated her and when he asked if her and McCullagh were ‘together’, she replied ‘we’re figuring it out. I like my independence, so for now anyway I’m just doing my own thing’ to which he replied ‘no point acting happy families if you don’t want it.’
She also told P ‘I have a good job and a house so I really don’t need to rely on anyone else so I’m not going to rush into a family set-up. I’m happy as I am.’
In a third exchange with a male referred to as ‘C’ she messaged about doing her own thing and when asked by C ‘are you going to break up with him?’ she replied ‘ack no, I wouldn’t do it before Christmas. That’s just me. I’ll see how I feel in the New Year.’
When C asked Ms McNally about her partner, she said ‘seeing a good bit of each other. There’s nothing wrong with him, I’m just feeling a bit uneasy.’
Other agreed facts read to the jury included internet searches conducted on McCullagh’s phone on November 16, 17 and December 9, 2022 relating to a vasectomy procedure.
McCullagh also conducted searches on December 18, 2022 accessing Translink timetables including bus and train services from Lisburn to Lurgan.
The jury was also told that an audio recording of the McNally family which lasted 39 minutes and seven seconds was taken on January 26, 2023 and located on McCullagh’s phone.
Holly McNally, who is married to one of Ms McNally’s brothers, was then called to the witness box.
She confirmed she was in the McNally family home on January 26, 2023 when the family were planning a rally for her and recalled McCullagh calling that day.
Mrs McNally confirmed McCullagh stayed for a couple of hours, left then returned around 20 minutes later.
She said she saw him at the window and went to the front door and that he told her he had forgot his phone so she told him to go and get it.
At hearing.
The trial so far…
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Natalie McNally murder trial: Ex-partner’s girlfriend tells jury ‘we did not plan any sort of alibi’
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Ex-boyfriend denies killing or that he ‘recruited’ anyone to help him murder Natalie McNally
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Natalie McNally trial: Ex-partner recalled being told ‘she’s been murdered’ in Snapchat message
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‘You killed her’: Ex-boyfriend tells accused in court during Natalie McNally murder trial
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Ex-partner tells court she was ‘slapped and punched’ by Natalie McNally murder accused during late-night car journey
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‘He just kept howling and crying’: Best friend of murder accused tells court of call on night Natalie McNally was found dead
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Natalie McNally trial: Mum breaks down in court as she recalls only daughter’s murder
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Man accused of murdering Natalie McNally told police ‘aggressive’ ex-boyfriend had been harassing her
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CCTV footage concerning ‘person of interest’ shown to jurors at Natalie McNally murder trial
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Cyber expert tells trial there was ‘extensive evidence’ live stream was pre-recorded
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YouTube ‘live stream’ made by man accused of Natalie McNally murder played for jury
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Natalie McNally subjected to ‘prolong assault’ and likely her unborn child ‘died as a result’, says pathologist
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Dog bowl beside head of Natalie McNally ‘almost like it had been used to collect the blood’, murder trial hears
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Constable ‘tried to console’ accused who was ‘distraught’ at scene
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Jury hears 999 call from man accused of killing pregnant partner
