YouTube account used in McNally murder alibi deleted

A YouTube account where Stephen McCullagh posted a fake livestream as a cover for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend has been deleted overnight.

The account was still available yesterday when McCullagh, 36, was convicted by a unanimous verdict of the murder of Natalie McNally.

A YouTuber and gamer, he had posted a fake 6-hour livestream on his account as a cover while he travelled from Lisburn to Lurgan to commit the murder.

The police had already ensured that the livestream video had been demonetised so that he could not earn an income from the plays of it.

Overnight, the account was terminated by YouTube.

A separate account belonging to McCullagh is still accessible this morning.

The prosecution had made the case that McCullagh had beaten, strangled and stabbed his former partner after discovering messages she had sent to other men.

During the trial, the jury had heard how Ms McNally had been messaging other men, including a former boyfriend, during her relationship with McCullagh.

The trial heard how McCullagh had pre-recorded a six-hour video of himself gaming several days before the murder.

The prosecution told the jury McCullagh had then published that to his YouTube channel at 6pm on Sunday 18 December 2022, presenting it as a live event.

It said he had used the window afforded by the recording to travel from Lisburn to Lurgan by bus to carry out the murder.

It said he had been forced into that position because he had missed the last train which he had intended to take.

Read more: How McCullagh's plot to murder Natalie McNally unravelled
Tracking data from the taxi company showed that the taxi had pulled up outside the house in Lisburn where McCullagh lived.

The driver gave evidence that his passenger had gone into the house to get cash for the fare.

McCullagh claimed it was part of an attempt by the real killer to frame him for Ms McNally's murder.

The trial had been told that McCullagh insisted a former boyfriend of Ms McNally's had been responsible for the crime.

The jury of six men and six women returned a verdict after two hours of deliberation.

McCullagh made no reaction as the guilty verdict was read out.

Mr Justice Kinney thanked the jury for their "diligence" in dealing with the case.

He said they had had to listen some "very difficult and traumatic evidence".

Watch: Watch: Family of Natalie McNally speak outside court
The judge said he would sit again on a separate date to set a minimum term of imprisonment before McCullagh can be considered for release.

The McNally family waited in the public gallery to watch as he passed them on the way down to the cells.

Before he left the court, the judge thanked the McNally family for the "dignity" they had shown throughout the trial.

Outside the court there were more emotional scenes as the lead investigating officer was hugged by family members.

Declan McNally paid tribute to his sister, saying: "Having you in our lives was the greatest joy we'll ever have.

"You would have been an amazing mother to baby Dean.

"We will love you forever and we hope you can now rest easy."
The family also thanked friends, family and the wider public for their support, saying without it "we would not have got through this most difficult time in our lives".