Man accused of Natalie McNally’s murder beat previous partner, court told

Stephen McCullagh also covertly recorded ex-girlfriend’s counselling sessions after loss of a baby, jury hears A man accused of murdering his pregnant girlfriend in Northern Ireland beat a previous partner, a court has heard. Stephen McCullagh also covertly recorded the counselling sessions of the woman, just months before he met and allegedly killed Natalie McNally, Belfast crown court was told on Friday. McCullagh, 36, of Lisburn, County Antrim, denies murdering McNally, 32, who was found dead at her home in Lurgan, County Armagh, in December 2022. She was subjected to a prolonged assault that included stab wounds to the neck, strangulation and heavy blows to the head, according to a state pathologist. Prosecutors allege McCullagh uploaded a prerecorded gaming session to YouTube and pretended it was a live stream to confect an alibi for a crime that was “planned, calculated and premeditated”. On Friday, the ninth day of the trial, the ex-girlfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she met McCullagh in 2015 and that they had an “off and on” relationship for seven years. At the end of 2019 they met at his home to try to reconcile after a break-up, she said. Mc