When asked if he was involved in her murder in any way, her ex-boyfriend said ‘No, not one bit’

An ex-boyfriend of Lurgan woman Natalie McNally addressed the man accused of murdering her in court today and said “you killed her.”

Ms McNally was 15 weeks pregnant when she was beaten, stabbed and strangled in her Silverwood Green home 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.

A trial centring on the murder of the 32-year-old is now in its third week and a former boyfriend – whose name is the subject of a reporting restriction – was the latest witness called to give evidence.

He spent all day in the witness at Belfast Crown Court where he was questioned by barristers for both the Crown and defence.

Under questioning from Crown KC Charles MacCreanor, the witness confirmed he and Ms McNally met on Tinder in 2019 and that following this he moved into her house for around a year. He said that after securing a flat, he moved out “after coronavirus>Covid” but said they “kept meeting up” after he moved out on a regular basis.

When asked when his relationship with Ms McNally ended, the witness said she was his “best friend” and that the relationship “never ended, as far as friends went.”

He then confirmed that he started a new relationship with a woman who moved in with him and quickly became pregnant. The witness was then asked about a series of messages exchanged between him and Mc McNally between the summer and December of 2022.

In these exchanges, which were via email and on WhatsApp, some of the messages were of a sexually explicit nature. The witness admitted sending and receiving messages with Ms McNally right up to the evening of her death.

He also admitted the last time he and Ms McNally were together sexually was around October 2022 in her house. Mr MacCreanor then asked the witness “looking back on it now, how do you feel you treated Natalie at that time?”

He replied: “Heartbreaking. The last time I saw Natalie she was lying on her bed on her side. I could tell she was raging at me.

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“I has come round and had sex then I was away and I could tell she was … that memory of the last time seeing her, I wish it was something nicer than her looking annoyed at me, annoyed at herself.”

Saying he “wasn’t proud” of this last meeting, the witness said: “I definitely took advantage of Natalie, definitely. I feel horrible about it.”

After saying “Natalie really was my best friend”, the witness then looked at McCullagh as he sat in the dock and said “and you killed her.”

At this point Mr Justice Kinney told the witness to “calm down and answer the questions you are being asked please.”

The witness then continued and said he knew Ms McNally for years and there was “a lot more” to their relationship than text messages. mHe added: “She was the nicest girl ever, she would have done anything for anybody. She helped me in so much and I feel horrible … I just wish I had been better to her. I definitely took advantage of Natalie and her good heart.”

Mr MacCreanor then asked the witness what he was doing on the evening of Sunday December 18, 2022. He recalled it being the evening of the World Cup Final and said that after he consumed Buckfast and beers, he fell asleep in his flat.

He also told the jury of six men and six women that his girlfriend had a video of him lying sleeping, and said “I never left the flat that night.”

When asked how he found out about Ms McNally’s death, the witness said he received message from one of her neighbours on Snapchat telling him she had been murdered.

The prosecutor also asked him about being arrested on suspicion of murder of Ms McNally’s murder. The witness confirmed he was interviewed by police on December 22, 2022 and asked what his aim was regarding Ms McNally, he said it was “to tell them as much as possible.”

He said that following his arrest “I knew I hadn’t done it” and he wasn’t worried as “the truth will always come out.”

Mr MacCreanor then asked the witness if he was aware that McCullagh had “pointed the police” towards him as the person who may have harmed Ms McNally and he replied “yeah, it’s ridiculous.”

And when asked if he was involved in her murder in any way, her ex-boyfriend said: “No, not one bit.”

He then added: “He [McCullagh] was. He done it. A blind person could see that.”

The witness was also cross-examined by defence barrister John Kearney KC. The barrister asked him about the year he lived with Ms McNally in Silverwood Green and he confirmed that she usually left her front door unlocked and that on occasion the back door was left “wide open.”

He was then questioned about Ms McNally’s dog River and when asked if the dog would have been familiar with him, the witness said “I know where you are going with this. Yes, she would have been.”

Asked by Mr Kearney what he meant by that, the witness said: “You are going to try and crack that because it was my dog that the dog didn’t attack me whenever I went round.

“It wasn’t me in Natalie’s house that night, it was him (McCullagh).”

At this point the defence barrister asked the witness if he had “trouble with anger control?” and he said: “I have been extremely stressed for the last three years, accused of murder, something I didn’t do.”

He then added that “at times” he did have potential anger issues. Mr Kearney then asked him about other ex-partners and in particular the woman he was with when Ms McNally died.

Mr Kearney also asked if he had ever grabbed her, throttled her, struck her or laid a finger on her and he replied “no” to each question.

He was also asked about WhatsApp messages he sent to her last weekend and whether or not he threatened her. The witness said there was “a load of slabbering going on from both parties” and that he was arrested the following day.

He said he “made it clear” he didn’t want to be with her any more and that he had blocked then unblocked her. Asked if he messaged her and told her he was tempted to go to her house to kick her head in because he hated her so much, he replied “potentially, yeah.”

He added: “There was toxic slabbering going on. That’s why I had her blocked, to stop all this. I’ve got wee angry thumbs that send wee stupid messages. These stupid thumbs say stupid things.”

Mr Kearney said “well those wee angry thumbs are connected to wee angry wrists and ultimately to an angry brain, isn’t that right?”

Asked again if he had a problem with anger management, the witness said he could get “extremely wound up and say stupid things” but he denied threatening to kill her or physically assaulting his ex-partner.

The witness is due to return to court to resume his evidence on Tuesday morning.

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A planning inspector has rejected an appeal against North Yorkshire Council’s decision to refuse planning permission to build a holiday let in part of the overgrown beer garden of the historic Henry Jenkins Inn at Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon.

Villagers had branded the proposal as a deliberate attempt to sabotage their plans.

Justin Claybourn, who owns part of the pub, appealed against the council decision, leading to an appeal hearing being held in Harrogate last month.

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The hearing was attended by Mr Claybourn, the pub’s co-owner, David Fielder, North Yorkshire Council and four representatives of the Henry Jenkins Community Pub group.

Rejecting the appeal,  the Inspector, Ms Michelle Clowes, said: “The conversion of the outbuildings to a holiday let would effectively landlock the remaining Henry Jenkins Inn with land in the appellant’s control.

“…I am not satisfied that it has been demonstrated that the Inn could viably be operated a public house without the land comprising the appeal site.”

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She said that the restoration and reopening of the Henry Jenkins would provide additional choice for residents and visitors, adding “I am mindful that there remain a sizeable number of objections to the current proposal which also advocate support for the reopening of the Henry Jenkins as a community pub.

“There is therefore evidence before me that the Inn would be valued by local residents and no doubt visitors to the Nidderdale area.”

In her decision, the planning inspector cited a range of government planning policies backing the provision of community facilities.

Key to her decision was the owner’s failure to carry out an independent valuation or properly market the Henry Jenkins as a pub.

The Inspector, who carried out a site visit of the 250-year-old pub, also slammed the current state of the pub, which has been closed since 2011.

She said: “The stripping out of internal fittings in 2015 does not reflect the actions of a landlord or seller seeking a continuation of pub use, and is likely to have deterred prospective occupiers… there do not appear to be any attempts to repair the roof to make it watertight.”

Richard Sadler, chair of the 140-strong Henry Jenkins Community Pub group, told the Press the decision was a “huge boost” to the campaign, which was further boosted by the comments made by the inspector.

“It is a vote of confidence in our campaign. She acknowledges our submissions amount to convincing evidence that we still have support for our plans.

To date, villagers have raised £150,000 to buy the pub and they will continue fundraising to create a community-owned pub, bistro and coffee shop.

Richard further told the Press: “Our strategy is to use this as a platform to press ahead with negotiations with North Yorkshire Council in breaking the stalemate.

“This has gone on long enough. The Henry Jenkins has been a blight on the village. The owner has been trying to wear down the village. We are not going away. We are bolstered by the decision.  We will be going to North Yorkshire Council to end the stalemate. All our offers to buy the pub have been rejected.”

In 2024 HJCP was awarded a £330,000 grant under the Conservative Government’s Community Ownership Fund but the offer was later  withdrawn because of the group was unable to reach agreement with the owner.

Fulham and Sunderland saw themselves unceremoniously knocked out of the running, having been on the losing end of 1-0 defeats by Southampton and Port Vale, respectively. The latter club, who sit rock bottom in League One, are now the lowest-ranked team left in the competition. Arsenal, conversely, are the highest, and they eased past Mansfield to confirm their progression on Sunday. Chelsea had a rather more stressful outing, requiring extra time to get by Championship side Wrexham.

Omed Pirot, 31, Sardam Ebrahimi, 28, and Shahab Husseini, 25, are accused of taking part in violent disorder

A brawl between two rival barber shops spilled out into the street in front of stunned onlookers as punches and kicks were reigned down on the participants, a court has heard. Some of the men allegedly involved in the brawl are accused of using weapons including a wrench.

Omed Pirot, 31, Sardam Ebrahimi, 28, and Shahab Husseini, 25, are alleged to have become involved in an incident of violent disorder between two barbershops, Marmaris Barbers in Blackwood and Kurds Barbers in Newbridge. The three defendants are accused of taking part in the melee along with 13 others in Blackwood High Street in front of innocent bystanders including children.

A trial at Newport Crown Court on Monday heard Pirot, from Marmaris Barbers, was planning on opening a new shop in Newbridge which was “not received well” by staff at Kurds Barbers. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The court heard at around 2.30pm on February 13 last year four cars were driven from Newbridge to Blackwood and pulled up outside Absolutely Fabulous hairdressers on the High Street. In his opening to the court, prosecutor Nuhu Gobir said: “The two factions then meet up on the street and a large-scale fight erupts.”

Customers at Absolutely Fabulous described seeing a group of men involved in a scuffle outside. Staff at the hairdressers were “frantic and scared” the men would get in as they pushed up against the windows of the salon.

Tracey Baker, a Gwent Police station enquiry officer, was driving through the high street when she saw a group of men fighting. She said: “There was no individual that stood out to me as being the main aggressor and all the males present were acting aggressively towards each other.”

Mair Bradshaw was a passenger in a car driving past when she saw what she described as “two gangs fighting one another” and said they were “all as bad as one another”.

Reading a statement on Ms Bradshaw’s behalf, Mr Gobir said: “There was no individual that stood out to me as being the main aggressor and all the males present were acting aggressively towards each other.”

After multiple 999 calls were made and reports that “five people had been stabbed”, police officers attended Marmaris Barbers and spoke to five people allegedly involved in the incident, three of which had visible injuries.

CCTV footage was obtained from Blackwood High Street as well as footage filmed by witnesses and posted on social media. Several pairs of scissors were also retrieved from the street.

Pirot was taken to hospital with a serious head injury and was found to have suffered a fractured skull. When interviewed Pirot denied using unlawful violence and said he was acting in self defence.

Ebrahimi confirmed he worked at Marmaris Barbershop in Blackwood and said a lot of people came to the shop but he was not involved in the argument or the fighting. He said he went outside and picked up a spanner and put it in his pocket to stop anyone using it. The defendant said he put this in the shop and denied unlawfully assaulting anyone.

Mr Gobir said: “However, after being shown CCTV footage of him punching someone who was looking away, he gave a ‘no comment’ interview. The prosecution says that was not self defence but unlawful violence.”

Husseini told officers his friend had bought a shop in Newbridge and had problems with people threatening him. He said he had just finished with a customer when his boss walked outside and when he next looked a brawl was taking place. The defendant said he was “fearful for his friends” and his actions were in self defence. He denies stabbing anyone.

Concluding his opening, Mr Gobir said: “The prosecution case is that this was a disturbance in which all the defendants have played a part in the fighting that took place or in continuing and escalating the nature of the violence.”

Identifying the defendants’ alleged involvement in the brawl, the prosecutor said Ebrahimi threw a punch at another man and was seen to pick up an object from the floor.

Husseini was said to have been seen taking a weapon to an unknown male and making “overhead slashing movements” at him.

Pirot was said to have been involved in fighting with another man before being hit to the head and falling to the floor. It was then said he threw a punch towards another man and took part in “brawling” across the street.

Mr Gobir added: “The prosecution case is unlawful violence was carried out. No one is acting in self defence, the defendants could have easily removed themselves from that situation but instead they stayed there and enthusiastically got involved in the fighting.”

Pirot, of High Street Pentwynmawr, Ebrahimi, of Raglan Court, Newport, and Husseini, of Clarence Street, Pontypool, have all pleaded not guilty to violent disorder and affray. The trial continues.

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Conan O’Brien says there was a pivotal moment that made him realize the drastic changes coming to the talk show industry — and it came with a side of hot sauce.

The legendary comedian and former talk show host recounted his 2024 appearance on Hot Ones — the viral YouTube show hosted by Sean Evans where celebrities are interviewed while eating spicy chicken — in a feature published Monday by The Hollywood Reporter.

After learning that his Hot Ones episode had logged more than 15 million views since its release, O’Brien realised how the industry was changing.

“That was the moment the scales fell from my eyes,” he told THR. “If a guy can do World Series numbers with overhead that looked, to me, to be about $600, and you have every big star lining up to do his show or Chicken Shop Date … that’s when I profoundly understood that late night shows are in trouble.”

O’Brien’s 28-year career in late night TV included hosting Late Night with Conan O’Brien from 1993 to 2009, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien from 2009 to 2010, and Conan from 2010 until he decided to step away from the TBS show in 2021 in favor of a streaming series on HBO Max.

Late night talk shows have undergone massive changes and controversy over the past few years — in part due to the changing media landscape that often highlights influencers and video content over journalists and broadcasting, and also in part due to fears about the government’s interference with free speech on major networks.

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O’Brien continued, “I’m of the mind that yes, these shows are going away and will become something else. But I don’t like when other malign forces intervene, because they’re trying to curry favor. That pisses me off.”

In September, after Disney pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off air following comments that Kimmel made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, O’Brien spoke out to defend Kimmel, saying: “The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel and the promise to silence other late night hosts for criticizing the administration should disturb everyone on the right, left, and center. It’s wrong and anyone with a conscience knows it’s wrong.”

The statement came as a rare venture for O’Brien, who has long said he prefers to leave political commentary to other comedians, even criticizing comedians who centered their acts around anti-Trump barbs.

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The former Saturday Night Live writer is next scheduled to host the Academy Awards for the second year in a row Sunday after his debut was received well by critics and viewers.

Chloe, assistant to her father, Michael, arrived back at Denton Hall stables, near Darlington, this afternoon (Monday) after managing to get on a flight out of Bahrain with a dozen staff from other racing yards.

Chloe left the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club mid-afternoon on Sunday but when she got to the airport, the air space was closed to all flights due to a missile attack.

She told how she watched drones being intercepted and blown up in the sky overhead.

Her flight was eventually cleared for take-off and she landed at Heathrow this morning after a six-and-a-half hour flight before catching a train back to Darlington.

“I’m just glad to be back home after such a long journey and a scary couple of weeks since the conflict started,” she said.

Chloe’s father, Michael, praised the Bahrain racing authorities for their care of the British contingent, and for keeping everyone informed about what was happening.

“It’s a huge relief to have Chloe home and we thank them for doing a great job in difficult circumstances,” said Michael.

Chloe had flown out to Bahrain to manage two of the yards best known horses, Commanche Falls and Northern Express, who travelled to the Middle East in December.

Both horses ran three times in Bahrain, with Commanche Falls finishing runner-up twice, and Northern Express being third.

The horses – both multiple winners in England – had been scheduled to run again at the end of the last week but were withdrawn in the interests of safety.

The horses are now being cared for by a Bahraini groom until flights can be arranged to get them back to England.

“The authorities over there are working on it and they’ll hopefully be home soon,” added Michael.

Chloe had to hurriedly vacate her apartment in Seef last week after a nearby residential area was struck by a missile. She initially moved into a jockeys’ house 20 minutes out of the city before the Bahrain authorities arranged more permanent accommodation in a safer area for the British staff.

Despite the ordeal, Chloe hopes to go back to Bahrain in the future. “Obviously, it wasn’t the way I wanted it to end but, up to the conflict starting, it was a great experience. I was with a great bunch of people and I’ve made new friends.

“Hopefully, things will settle down as soon as possible and I’d do it again given the opportunity,” she said.

In the meantime, Chloe has been getting reacquainted with the horses at Denton Hall, especially her personal favourite, Roaring Ralph, who has won twice while she’s been away.

And the she’ll be straight back to work – riding out first thing in the morning!

The latest comes as hundreds of Brits are desperate to get back home amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East

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Several major airlines have issued new travel advice for people in Dubai as the Iran war rages into another week.

Since February 28, parts of the Middle East have been plunged into a war zone as Iran launched retaliatory attacks in the wake of US-Israel’s joint missile strike on the country.

Dubai, Kuwait and Bahrain have been targeted by Iranian drones, forcing flights to stay grounded due to security risks and the threat of drones in the airspace. Thousands of Brits have since been stranded and eager to get home as the war escalates while Dubai has shot up the ranks on the UK government’s ‘no travel’ list – unless it is essential.

Airlines including Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have now issued fresh travel advice. While some services are gradually resuming, many routes will remain suspended or at least operating on reduced schedules, reports The Express.

The Foreign Office said: “FCDO advises against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates. Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).” The UK government also warned: “Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption. Stay away from areas around security or military facilities.”

Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways – latest

Dubai-based airline Emirates said it has begun operating a reduced flight schedule after parts of regional airspace reopened.

A spokesperson said: “Customers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating.

“Please do not go to the airport unless you hold a confirmed booking for these flights.”

Meanwhile Etihad Airways, is operating limited flights to London Heathrow and Manchester from Abu Dhabi, but also warned that “all other scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended.”

Qatar Airways is operating one flight a day to and from London Heathrow to Doha, however “scheduled flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace”.

European airlines response

Virgin Atlantic did restart its flights from both Dubai to the UK. However, a recent 16-hour flight, dubbed the ‘flight to nowhere’, was forced to return to London Heathrow which led to the airline scrapping flights until the end of the season (March 28).

Meanwhile, British Airways is currently unable to operate services to Dubai and has instead been running limited flights from Oman to London.

Passengers booked on British Airways flights to Dubai before March 15 have been offered the option to change travel dates free of charge or request a full refund.

Air France has cancelled flights between Paris and Dubai until March 10, saying operations will resume only after a new safety assessment.

KLM has suspended flights to Dubai, Dammam and Riyadh until March 10 and is avoiding several Middle Eastern airspace corridors due to security concerns.

Lufthansa has paused flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi until March 10, with several other Middle East routes also temporarily suspended.

Most tour operators are allowing Brits to cancel Dubai holidays for a full refund after the destination was placed on the UK’s “all but essential travel” list.

Travel firm Loveholidays has cancelled all trips departing to Dubai, or via Dubai, up to March 15 and is issuing full refunds.

Customers with Emirates flights until March 31 can also cancel for a refund, while holidays using Virgin Atlantic flights have been cancelled until the same date.

The company has also paused selling Dubai holidays until May, although June departures remain on sale.

Meanwhile TUI said customers due to travel to the UAE within the next week will be contacted to discuss their options.

On the Beach has also cancelled UAE holidays temporarily and is offering affected travellers a full refund.

It was the end of an era on Sunday (March 8) as the High Row department store closed its doors to shoppers after more than a century in the town. 

The store was due to shut in April – but earlier last week it emerged that the final day had been brought forward to Sunday with just days’ notice. 

Yesterday, sad pictures from inside of the Binns building – which is also now up for sale – showed empty shelves, storage boxes and unclothed mannequins as bargain hunters tried to find a last minute deal before the deadline. 

And while the store is now closed to the public, pictures taken today show how the store’s interior has already been gutted. 

Removal vans can be seen parked on High Row while teams in high-vis jackets work inside, with the ground floor now largely empty and metal containers full of rubbish visible. 

The reason for the closure still remains unknown – with Frasers Group refusing to comment on the news despite numerous attempts from The Northern Echo. 

When the closure date was confirmed as Sunday, John Taylor, director of Parker Barras and agent of the owner, said: “I have had no further contact with House of Fraser to confirm what they are doing. Our thoughts go out to the staff”. 

The closure comes weeks after the Binns building was put up for sale for an undisclosed fee as an “incredible investment opportunity”. 

Last November, plans were approved to split the building into six individual shops in a bid to “keep options open” for the future. 

There are indicative drawings for the upper floors to be transformed into 73 apartments with a gym and remote working space, or alternatively office space.