The family of Natalie McNally have expressed their hope that the sentence handed down to Stephen McCullagh for her murder will serve as a deterrent against violence towards women and girls.
McCullagh was ordered to serve a minimum of 31 years in prison at Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday, following his conviction for the murder of Ms McNally, who was pregnant with their son at the time of her death.
Speaking outside the court, Ms McNally’s father, Noel, stated that his family is already enduring a life sentence due to the loss of their beloved daughter.
“Over the past three-and-a-half years, our family have endured unimaginable pain and grief from the loss of our beautiful Natalie,” he said.
“We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who has supported us throughout this ordeal, including our family, friends, the communities of Lurgan and Craigavon, and people across the country and beyond for their kindness and support.”
He also thanked the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the prosecution service for their efforts in bringing the case to a conclusion.
“Today is not a celebration of the sentence handed down, as Bernadette, my sons, and I are serving a life sentence since the murder of our beloved Natalie. However, we hope this will act as a deterrent to help end violence against women and girls in this country,” Noel McNally added.
He concluded by requesting privacy for the family as they continue to grieve.
