{"id":317166,"date":"2026-02-25T22:04:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T22:04:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/317166\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T22:04:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T22:04:07","slug":"former-partner-of-natalie-mcnally-peddled-false-alibi-about-live-gaming-stream-court-hears-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/317166\/","title":{"rendered":"Former partner of Natalie McNally \u2018peddled false alibi\u2019 about live gaming stream, court hears \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

A \u201cso-called\u201d live YouTube<\/a> gaming stream hosted by a man accused of murdering his pregnant partner, Natalie McNally<\/a>, has been played to jurors at Belfast Crown Court.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It was called The Violent Night Christmas Live Gaming Stream.<\/p>\n

At the opening of the trial on Monday the court heard the footage was recorded days earlier.<\/p>\n

It was used by the defendant who \u201cpeddled a false alibi\u201d by pretending to be gaming during the period he carried out the murder, the prosecution said.<\/p>\n

McCullagh (36), from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, Co Antrim, has denied the charge.<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) February 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

McNally (32) was killed at her home in Silverwood Green, Lurgan on the night of December 18th, 2022, when she was 15 weeks\u2019 pregnant with a baby boy.<\/p>\n

The time of death was 8.50pm-9.30pm.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

He was rearrested in late January 2023 and in a pre-prepared statement submitted on February 2nd, McCullagh admitted the stream was pre-recorded.<\/p>\n

He said he fell asleep after drinking too much alcohol on the night of the killing.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday prosecution barrister Charles MacCreanor said a portion of the \u201cso-called live stream\u201d would be played.<\/p>\n

The footage showed the defendant drinking Guinness and Baileys as he played the Grand Theft Auto Vice City game.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cI\u2019m going to drink during this live stream \u2026 I\u2019m going to drink and drive in the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not leaving the house tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

About 90 minutes of footage was played to the jury of six men and six women.<\/p>\n

McCullagh swore and screamed loudly throughout the stream.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a very angry gamer by the way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Wearing a Santa hat, he introduced the stream.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey and we\u2019re live\u2026hello, hello to all on this glorious Sunday evening. Yeah, I just thought, why not, I\u2019m going to do a live stream because this day next week is Christmas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat more could you want for Christmas than an evening with your old friend, Stephen.\u201d<\/p>\n

He told YouTube followers that he \u201ccan\u2019t look at the live chat for some bloody reason\u201d and asked them to \u201cchat amongst\u201d themselves.<\/p>\n

He said he would \u201ccall it a night\u201d at midnight.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll be a really good f***ing Christmas this year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

WhatsApp messages between the defendant and McNally on the days before her death were read to the jury.<\/p>\n

Hours before she was murdered, she watched the World Cup final at her parents\u2019 home and wrote at 5.55pm: \u201cArgentina win it, I\u2019m crying\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Two minutes later, McCullagh messaged her: \u201cRight, I\u2019m off to stream the night away. Wish me luck.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her last message to him was sent at 5.59pm when she replied: \u201cGood luck. I might have a peek at your live stream later\u201d.<\/p>\n

Further WhatsApp messages sent by the defendant to McNally the day after the murder were read to the jury.<\/p>\n

All went unanswered.<\/p>\n

In one message, he apologised for breaking his promise not to drink alcohol during the pregnancy. <\/p>\n

He was the father of her unborn child.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you and I don\u2019t want to do anything to hurt or upset you,\u201d he wrote at 4.09pm on Monday, December 19th.<\/p>\n

He told her he was \u201cgetting a little worried\u201d about her safety when she didn\u2019t reply.<\/p>\n

At 9.31pm he messaged to say he was going to her house.<\/p>\n

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 \u201chypo\u201d attack.<\/p>\n

McCullough asked his friend to go to his partner\u2019s house with him but she told him she couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Earlier, a small black-handed knife found beside McNally\u2019s body at the murder scene was shown to the jury.<\/p>\n

A silver dog bowl and a sheet of paper containing information on diabetes, which were found close to the deceased\u2019s body, were also shown as evidence exhibits.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday the court heard a police officer describe how the bowl appeared to be filled with blood.<\/p>\n

The trial continues.<\/p>\n