A “so-called” live YouTube gaming stream hosted by a man accused of murdering his pregnant partner, Natalie McNally, has been played to jurors at Belfast Crown Court.
On the third day of the murder trial the accused, Stephen McCullagh, sat in the dock watching the footage played online on the evening the Co Armagh woman was killed.
It was called The Violent Night Christmas Live Gaming Stream.
At the opening of the trial on Monday the court heard the footage was recorded days earlier.
It was used by the defendant who “peddled a false alibi” by pretending to be gaming during the period he carried out the murder, the prosecution said.
McCullagh (36), from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, Co Antrim, has denied the charge.
Footage has been played in court of a ‘live stream’ hosted by a man accused of murdering Natalie McNally in Armagh. Prosecutors allege the stream was a ‘false alibi’ pic.twitter.com/iReiLt6MkL
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) February 25, 2026
McNally (32) was killed at her home in Silverwood Green, Lurgan on the night of December 18th, 2022, when she was 15 weeks’ pregnant with a baby boy.
The time of death was 8.50pm-9.30pm.
When McCullagh was first arrested on the night of the murder, he told police he was at home hosting the six-hour live stream from 6pm until midnight.
He was rearrested in late January 2023 and in a pre-prepared statement submitted on February 2nd, McCullagh admitted the stream was pre-recorded.
He said he fell asleep after drinking too much alcohol on the night of the killing.
On Wednesday prosecution barrister Charles MacCreanor said a portion of the “so-called live stream” would be played.
The footage showed the defendant drinking Guinness and Baileys as he played the Grand Theft Auto Vice City game.
He said: “I’m going to drink during this live stream … I’m going to drink and drive in the game.
“I’m not leaving the house tonight.”
About 90 minutes of footage was played to the jury of six men and six women.
McCullagh swore and screamed loudly throughout the stream.
“I’m a very angry gamer by the way,” he said.
Wearing a Santa hat, he introduced the stream.
“Hey and we’re live…hello, hello to all on this glorious Sunday evening. Yeah, I just thought, why not, I’m going to do a live stream because this day next week is Christmas,” he said.
“What more could you want for Christmas than an evening with your old friend, Stephen.”
He told YouTube followers that he “can’t look at the live chat for some bloody reason” and asked them to “chat amongst” themselves.
He said he would “call it a night” at midnight.
“It’ll be a really good f***ing Christmas this year,” he said.
WhatsApp messages between the defendant and McNally on the days before her death were read to the jury.
Hours before she was murdered, she watched the World Cup final at her parents’ home and wrote at 5.55pm: “Argentina win it, I’m crying…”
Two minutes later, McCullagh messaged her: “Right, I’m off to stream the night away. Wish me luck.”
Her last message to him was sent at 5.59pm when she replied: “Good luck. I might have a peek at your live stream later”.
Further WhatsApp messages sent by the defendant to McNally the day after the murder were read to the jury.
All went unanswered.
In one message, he apologised for breaking his promise not to drink alcohol during the pregnancy.
He was the father of her unborn child.
“I love you and I don’t want to do anything to hurt or upset you,” he wrote at 4.09pm on Monday, December 19th.
He told her he was “getting a little worried” about her safety when she didn’t reply.
At 9.31pm he messaged to say he was going to her house.
He also sent messages to a a female friend, expressing concern that McNally was not responding to him and that she may be unwell or suffered a diabetes-related “hypo” attack.
McCullough asked his friend to go to his partner’s house with him but she told him she couldn’t.
Earlier, a small black-handed knife found beside McNally’s body at the murder scene was shown to the jury.
A silver dog bowl and a sheet of paper containing information on diabetes, which were found close to the deceased’s body, were also shown as evidence exhibits.
On Tuesday the court heard a police officer describe how the bowl appeared to be filled with blood.
The trial continues.