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The McNally family has been grappling with intense emotions following the conviction of their daughter Natalie’s murderer. Her father, Noel McNally, expressed deep regret over having allowed the accused, McCullagh, to be alone with Natalie’s body during her wake after her tragic death. Natalie, who was 15 weeks pregnant, was fatally stabbed and beaten in her home in Lurgan, County Armagh, in December 2022. The pain of losing her combined with the shock of the betrayal has left the family struggling to come to terms with the ordeal.
In conversations after the verdict, Noel and his wife Bernie described the initial disbelief when McCullagh was arrested for the murder. Noel described the feeling as being “hit by a bus,” and spoke of the “relief” that followed after nearly four years of waiting for justice. They recalled how, in the immediate aftermath, McCullagh had visited on Christmas night to pay respects. Noel explained, “We brought him in and he told us the whole story about how he found Natalie… we felt so sorry for him.” At that time, the family believed him to be a grief-stricken partner, which led to them leaving him alone with Natalie in the wake room for around 20 to 30 minutes, a memory that haunts them deeply.
Bernie McNally also spoke about the confusion and guilt felt by family members, particularly her son Declan, who once accompanied McCullagh to Natalie’s grave. She comforted him by assuring it was not his fault, saying, “He was looking after him.” Despite McCullagh’s frequent visits to the family home, where he was provided food and companionship during the difficult weeks after Natalie’s murder, there was no sense from his behavior that he was responsible for the crime. Bernie described him as “just such a good actor,” never letting his guard down. Reflecting on his recounting of how he found Natalie, she said, “He was just taking pleasure out of telling us, it was so horrific… To me, he was enjoying it.”
Almost two months after Natalie’s death, McCullagh was arrested again, and the family was stunned by the revelation that he was responsible. Noel recalled how they had been misled to believe the perpetrator was an ex-boyfriend, making the truth all the more shocking. When asked if they thought McCullagh believed he could evade conviction, Bernie replied, “I think he did, he really did think he could get away with it – but he’s not as smart as he thought he was.” Though McCullagh denied the charges, the jury took little time to reach a guilty verdict. Outside the court, Natalie’s brother Declan described her as “an inspirational person” and said, “Having you in our lives was the greatest joy we’ll ever have.” Noel described the delay in justice as “unforgivable” and said McCullagh had “put us through hell.”
In the wake of the verdict, emotions ran high within the McNally family. Noel talked of the long wait of three and a half years for closure, describing the moment the verdict came in as “surreal” and an overwhelming release of pent-up feelings. He affectionately described Natalie as their “wee princess” and shared how, even though she had her own home, she visited her parents almost daily. “Whenever I hear the door opening sometimes I think it’s her,” he said. Bernie echoed this sentiment, saying, “I miss her so much every day,” recalling the small everyday moments they once shared—from helping her with technology to going on holidays together—that now feel painfully absent
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