The public gallery was filled to capacity with Ms McNally’s family, friends and supporters as anticipation mounted that a verdict would be reached
Cheers erupted at Belfast Crown Court amid emotional scenes after Stephen McCullagh was convicted of murdering his partner Natalie McNally.
It came at the start of the fifth week of the trial of McCullagh, 36, of Woodland Gardens, Lisburn, at Belfast Crown Court.
The jury of six men and six women reached the verdict after around two hours of deliberations, and four weeks of hearing evidence which delved into Ms McNally and McCullagh’s relationship, his audacious staging of a six-hour livestream to give him an alibi and how he disguised himself to go to her house.
The trial heard Ms McNally died at her home in Lurgan after sustaining serious and multiple fatal injuries in an act which the prosecution described as a “planned, calculated, pre-meditated murder by the defendant”.
She had been 15 weeks pregnant with McCullagh’s son.
The public gallery was filled to capacity with Ms McNally’s family, friends and supporters as anticipation mounted that a verdict would be reached.
It was just after 3.30pm when the jury returned into the courtroom with their verdict.
McCullagh showed no emotion, dressed in the blue jumper, grey T-shirt and jeans combination which he had worn for most of the trial and standing between two members of prison staff as he awaited the verdict.
He simply remained looking towards the jury as the foreperson revealed their guilty verdict and the public gallery erupted with cheers, waving arms and embraces.
As the cheers faded, the sound of sobbing could be heard as the enormity of the moment sank in.
The judge, Mr Justice Kinney, asked those in the public gallery to calm down as he continued with the remainder of the proceedings.
After the court session rose, there were also cheers from the public gallery for the detectives and police who worked to bring McCullagh to justice.
Ms McNally’s brothers Declan and Niall McNally spoke outside Belfast Crown Court after Stephen McCullagh, 36, of Woodland Gardens, Lisburn, was found guilty of her murder on Monday.
Niall thanked the McNally and Haddock families as well as “wider family and friends for their continued support over the past three-and-a-half years”.
He also thanked “all the communities from Lurgan, Craigavon and the whole of Northern Ireland and beyond for the support they’ve given us”.
Declan paid tributed to his sister, he said: “Having you in our lives was the greatest joy we’ll ever have.
“You would have been an amazing mother to baby Dean.
“We will love you forever and we hope you can now rest easy.”
He also delivered a message about violence against women: “As Natalie receives justice today, our hearts go out to all the victims of violence against women and girls
“Our hope is that all the victims and families get their day in court and the justice they deserve.
“Violence against women and girls is the shame of our society and we must do everything possible to end it.”
He also paid tribute to their “amazing” parents and said: “I don’t know how they’ve done it.”
He added: “They have the biggest strength you could ever think of.
“They’ve held us all together, it’s just amazing, we love you very much”.
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