Friend Recalls Call After Natalie McNally's Death
A friend of Stephen McCullagh testified at Belfast Crown Court about the phone call she received from him informing her of Natalie McNally's death.
McCullagh, 36, from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, County Antrim, denies the murder of Natalie, who was found dead in her Silverwood Green home in Lurgan on 18 December. Natalie was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
Anne McCullough described McCullagh as "really upset" and "screaming - she's gone, she's gone, Natalie's gone." She stated that she initially thought Natalie had left him. A female police officer then took the phone and informed her that the 32-year-old Natalie had died. McCullough said,
"He was so loud. He was howling, crying and screaming."
She added,
"I was trying to get him to calm down."
Ms McCullough told the court that she and McCullagh had been friends since they were 18, having attended college together studying film-making.
"We were really good friends. Best friends."
She said McCullagh was "overjoyed and so excited" about the baby, noting,
"He was learning to cook. Reading up on parenting. Reading up about diabetes. He seemed to be prepping to become dad."
When asked by prosecution barrister Charles MacCreanor KC about their relationship, Ms McCullough described it as,
"very lovely, very positive"
and added,
"It was the happiest I'd ever seen him."
She also expressed her opinion of Natalie, saying she thought Natalie "was fantastic" and that she "challenged" McCullagh.
'He said his clothes were evidence'
Ms McCullough recounted driving to Natalie's home on the night of the killing to support McCullagh. During her journey to Lurgan, she received another call from him.
She described him as "much calmer" but "zoned out," suggesting he was dissociating. He spoke about Natalie's death and told her,
"when I got there I couldn't hug him or touch him. He said his clothes were evidence."
She continued,
"He said 'there's blood on my clothes'."
Ms McCullough said she was in shock, stating,
"My friend and her baby were dead."
She considered Natalie a friend and had bought her a Christmas present.
Following McCullagh's arrest on 19 December, Ms McCullough expressed concern for his mental health and visited him at his Lisburn home after his release.
'I have had nightmares since'
Ms McCullough said McCullagh detailed how he found Natalie, explaining,
"He said he saw her feet first. He found her lying face down in a dog bowl. He said the house was in a state and that there looked to have been some kind of argument."
She mentioned that something had happened to the Christmas tree and that there was blood in various locations.
Ms McCullough described,
"He had turned her over and stuff was coming out of her mouth. She was cold."
She admitted being upset and overwhelmed by the information, stating,
"I thought I was being a good friend. I didn't want to hear this. I have had nightmares since."
She added,
"I didn't think he had anybody else to talk to. I took it on the chin and then had nightmares about it."
After McCullagh was re-arrested in January 2023, Ms McCullough saw a news alert about the arrest and initially believed the suspect had been found. She called McCullagh but received no answer, later realizing he was the person re-arrested.
Live stream
Ms McCullough stated she never suspected any reason for the re-arrest, noting that McCullagh had an alibi.
She testified that McCullagh told her he was "going live" on 18 December, although he had mentioned on 17 December that this event had not yet occurred. The court heard McCullagh later admitted the live stream was pre-recorded days earlier.
Ms McCullough said,
"I can't understand why he wouldn't have told me it was pre-recorded. I've no idea why he would lie to me."
She also described McCullagh's behavior when disagreements arose, stating,
"If I said anything that McCullagh didn't like or disagreed with, he would have given me the cold shoulder."
She added,
"He would go quiet after a disagreement. I always feel like I was being punished."
Defence barrister John Kearney KC asked if she knew McCullagh often spent Christmas Day alone reflecting on his parents.
Ms McCullough replied,
"No, he would tell me he spent time with his cousin and her child. He was sad but he had a good time."
CCTV footage
Regarding CCTV footage of a person of interest outside Natalie's home on the night of her death, Ms McCullough said,
"If I am honest, the image, all I could see is a blob. I couldn't describe what the person was wearing."
When asked if she had ever seen McCullagh wearing a big coat, she responded,
"He did have a big coat."
She explained that Natalie was fond of thrifting and that McCullagh had purchased a big coat at a charity shop.
Ms McCullough described Natalie as,
"absolutely lovely."
She said,
"I struggle socially and she was very easy to talk to. It seemed everything was going well and he was super happy."
When asked if it was fair to say McCullagh was ecstatic about the baby, she agreed.
