YouTuber jailed for life after murdering pregnant girlfriend while broadcasting fake livestream

A YouTuber who murdered his pregnant girlfriend and falsely claimed he was live-streaming a video game as an alibi has been jailed for life with a minimum of 31 years.

Stephen McCullagh, 36, was convicted by a jury at Belfast Crown Court in March of killing Natalie McNally, 32, who was 15 weeks pregnant with their child.

During the attack, at her home in Lurgan on 18 December 2022, she suffered stab wounds, strangulation and blows to the hand.

McCullagh concocted an alibi that he had been live-streaming himself playing computer games on his channel when Ms McNally was murdered.

But police experts discovered the six-hour "live stream" had actually been filmed four days before, and broadcast as live on the night of the murder.

Speaking outside court after McCullagh was found guilty, Ms McNally's brother Declan McNally said: "Violence against women and girls is the shame of our society, and we must do everything possible to end it."

The video platform giant YouTube removed McCullagh's account following his murder conviction.

McCullagh planned crime 'in remorseless detail'

Handing sentence, Judge Mr Justice Kinney said McCullagh presented himself to Ms McNally's family as "devastated, distraught and shocked" - and arrived at their home on Christmas Day for her wake.

He added that McCullagh's falsified live stream was "integral" to his plan, saying it had been "carefully curated to appear as if it was streaming live and to provide the defendant a carefully-planned complete alibi to the murder".

"You planned this murder in remorseless detail," the judge added. "You attacked someone you profess to love in a frenzied assault, which was characterised by its excessive and gratuitous violence.

"Despite that frenzy, the killing was cold-blooded and calculated, as evidenced by the extensive planning leading up to the murder and your actions afterwards.

"Your behaviour towards the McNally family showed your absolute determination to cover your tracks."

The judge also said that the sentence "cannot possibly reflect the value of Natalie's life, or indeed that of her unborn child".

Speaking outside the court after sentencing, Ms McNally's father Noel said his family had endured "unimaginable pain and grief over the loss of our beautiful daughter".

"Today we do not celebrate the sentence handed down as Bernadette, my three boys and myself are serving a life sentence since the murder of our beloved Natalie, but hopefully it will serve to deter and to help stop violence against women and girls in this country," he added.

"With respect, we are now asking for some privacy to continue to grieve."

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A sentencing hearing in May heard that McCullagh told his probation officer that the murder was "evil" and "vicious", and referred to himself as "a monster" after first insisting he was not guilty.

He also said: "I'm sorry for what I did to that poor family, what I did to Natalie... I would take it back if I could."

'Sustained and shockingly violent attack'

In a statement after the sentencing, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness paid tribute to Ms McNally - "a much-loved daughter and sister".

He described McCullagh's crime as "a sustained and shockingly violent attack, which took Natalie's life and that of her unborn son", and said his efforts to conceal the crime showed him "masqueraded as a distraught and caring partner".

"This was an attack that sent shockwaves right across the community," he added, referring to it as a case of domestic homicide.

"Not only was it distressingly brutal in nature," the chief inspector said, "it was meticulously and coldly premeditated.

"A loving family are left with unimaginable heartache. They have lost their beloved Natalie and the baby boy they so dearly wanted to welcome into their family."

(c) Sky News 2026: YouTuber jailed for life after murdering pregnant girlfriend while broadcasting fake livestream