Ep 43 – The Livestream Lie – The Murder of Natalie McNally
“In a home in Northern Ireland, a camera was turned on — but what it showed wasn’t the truth.”
In 2022, concern began to grow around the disappearance of a young pregnant woman. Messages had stopped. Contact had faded. And those closest to her were left trying to understand what had changed — and when.
At the centre of it was Stephen McCullagh — a local YouTuber who, at first, appeared to account for his movements in an unusual way. A livestream. A visible presence. A digital alibi that seemed, on the surface, to place him somewhere else entirely.
But as investigators began to examine timelines more closely, the sequence of events no longer aligned as cleanly as it first appeared. The livestream itself became part of the enquiry — not as confirmation, but as something to be tested, questioned, and ultimately dismantled.
What followed was a case built on reconstruction: of movements, of digital evidence, and of a narrative that had been carefully put forward — but could not withstand scrutiny.
This week, the Archive examines a crime shaped by deception in the digital age — where presence could be manufactured, and where the truth had to be uncovered frame by frame.
Some alibis are built to be seen. Others are built to mislead.
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SOURCES
Belfast Telegraph - Natalie McNally killer posed as journalist and called Policing Board MLA in bid to obtain information on murder probe https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/natalie-mcnally-killer-posed-as-journalist-and-called-policing-board-mla-in-bid-to-obtain-information-on-murder-probe/a/144698071.html [https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/natalie-mcnally-killer-posed-as-journalist-and-called-policing-board-mla-in-bid-to-obtain-information-on-murder-probe/a/144698071.html]
Belfast Telegraph - ‘Target on his back’: Stephen McCullagh being held on Maghaberry Prison’s hospital wing over fears of revenge attack https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/target-on-his-back-stephen-mccullagh-being-held-on-maghaberry-prisons-hospital-wing-over-fears-of-revenge-attack/a/144491942.html [https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/target-on-his-back-stephen-mccullagh-being-held-on-maghaberry-prisons-hospital-wing-over-fears-of-revenge-attack/a/144491942.html]
Irish Independent - From nerd to cold killer: colleague of murderer Stephen McCullagh reveals chilling transformation of monster he thought he knew https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/from-nerd-to-cold-killer-colleague-of-murderer-stephen-mccullagh-reveals-chilling-transformation-of-monster-he-thought-he-knew/a206542404.html [https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/from-nerd-to-cold-killer-colleague-of-murderer-stephen-mccullagh-reveals-chilling-transformation-of-monster-he-thought-he-knew/a206542404.html]
ITV NEWS - Natalie McNally partner Stephen McCullagh guilty of murder: Timeline of events https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-23/from-dating-app-to-cold-blooded-murder [https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-23/from-dating-app-to-cold-blooded-murder?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
ITV NEWS - Jury finds Stephen McCullagh guilty of murdering Natalie McNally https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-23/jury-in-natalie-mcnally-murder-trial-retires-to-consider-verdict [https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-23/jury-in-natalie-mcnally-murder-trial-retires-to-consider-verdict?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
ITV NEWS - Killer Stephen McCullagh ‘very manipulative, very cold and calculated’ https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-23/star-witness-who-helped-unpick-murderers-conspiracy [https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-23/star-witness-who-helped-unpick-murderers-conspiracy?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
ITV NEWS - Natalie McNally’s brothers pay tribute to strength of parents after guilty verdict https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-23/natalie-mcnally-brothers-pay-tribute-to-strength-of-parents-after-guilty-verdict [https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-23/natalie-mcnally-brothers-pay-tribute-to-strength-of-parents-after-guilty-verdict?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
ITV NEWS - Prosecution in Natalie McNally murder trial tells jury Stephen McCullagh ‘lied and lied again’ https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-18/he-lied-and-lied-again-prosecution-delivers-closing-statement-in-murder-trial [https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-18/he-lied-and-lied-again-prosecution-delivers-closing-statement-in-murder-trial?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
ITV NEWS - Evidence in Natalie McNally murder trial points to ‘some other killer’ https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-19/murder-trial-told-evidence-points-to-some-other-killer [https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-19/murder-trial-told-evidence-points-to-some-other-killer?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
ITV NEWS - Natalie McNally considered breaking up with murder accused days before she was killed, court hears https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-13/natalie-mcnally-considered-breaking-up-with-murder-accused-court-hears [https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-13/natalie-mcnally-considered-breaking-up-with-murder-accused-court-hears?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
ITV NEWS - Natalie McNally murder accused made ‘no comment’ response over 80 times to police https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-02/murder-accused-denies-killing-natalie-mcnally-and-tells-court-her-ex-was-abusive [https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-02/murder-accused-denies-killing-natalie-mcnally-and-tells-court-her-ex-was-abusive?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
ITV NEWS - Natalie McNally: Chilling footage from UTV shows killer at victim’s vigil https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-27/killer-at-large-chilling-footage-shows-murderer-at-natalie-mcnallys-vigil [https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2026-03-27/killer-at-large-chilling-footage-shows-murderer-at-natalie-mcnallys-vigil?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
BBC News - Man released after Natalie McNally found dead in Lurgan https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-64036113 [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-64036113?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
BBC News - Natalie McNally: Police revisit Lurgan murder scene https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-64200914 [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-64200914?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
BBC News - Natalie McNally: Suspect seen in victim’s street on night of Lurgan stabbing https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-64069346 [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-64069346?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
BBC News - Murder accused’s tearful 999 call was an act, prosecution claims https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2d1jp8d7ryo [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2d1jp8d7ryo]
BBC News - Pathologist says Natalie McNally endured prolonged assault https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q3l33nwp1o [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q3l33nwp1o]
BBC News - Evidence gaming broadcast was pre-recorded, murder trial hears https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj6dx390y3zo [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj6dx390y3zo]
BBC News - Family comforted murder accused after Natalie McNally’s death https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9883njdnmo [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9883njdnmo]
BBC News - Murder accused was ‘inconsolable’ the night Natalie McNally was killed, friend says https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w55rjq720o [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w55rjq720o]
RTÉ - Jury sworn in at Natalie McNally murder trial https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2026/0216/1559885-natalie-mcnally/https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2026/0216/1558769-stephen-mccullagh-court/ [https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2026/0216/1558769-stephen-mccullagh-court/]
RTÉ - Murder trial told ex-partner was harassing McNally https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2026/0302/1561198-natalie-mcnally/https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2026/0302/1561221-stephen-mccullagh-trial/ [https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2026/0302/1561221-stephen-mccullagh-trial/]
RTÉ - Ex-partner of McNally murder accused says he assaulted her https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2026/0306/1561949-stephen-mccullagh/https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2026/0306/1561993-stephen-mccullagh-court/ [https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2026/0306/1561993-stephen-mccullagh-court/]
RTÉ - ‘You killed her,’ says Natalie McNally’s ex-partner in court https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2026/0309/1562443-natalie-mcnally/https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/0309/1562456-natalie-mcnally-court/ [https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/0309/1562456-natalie-mcnally-court/]
RTÉ - Jury shown police interview with man accused of murdering McNally https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2026/0313/1563285-natalie-mcnally/https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2026/0313/1563324-natalie-mcnally-court/ [https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2026/0313/1563324-natalie-mcnally-court/]
The Guardian - A live stream lie unravelled: how Stephen McCullagh tried to get away with pregnant girlfriend’s murder https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/23/stephen-mccullagh-livestream-lies-natalie-mcnally-murder [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/23/stephen-mccullagh-livestream-lies-natalie-mcnally-murder?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
The Guardian - Man who used false gaming alibi found guilty of Natalie McNally’s murder https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/23/man-false-gaming-alibi-found-guilty-natalie-mcnally-murder [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/23/man-false-gaming-alibi-found-guilty-natalie-mcnally-murder?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
The Guardian - Man accused of Natalie McNally’s murder beat previous partner, court told https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/06/man-accused-of-natalie-mcnallys-beat-previous-partner-court-told [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/06/man-accused-of-natalie-mcnallys-beat-previous-partner-court-told?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
Irish News - Natalie McNally: Murder accused’s YouTube channel gains thousands of new subscribers following charge https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2023/02/06/news/natalie_mcnally_murder_accused_s_youtube_channel_gains_thousands_of_new_subscribers_following_charge-3041105/https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/natalie-mcnally-murder-accuseds-youtube-channel-gains-thousands-of-new-subscribers-following-charge-CS2WZ73YQRE27OH7HJJSCTHVAU/ [https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/natalie-mcnally-murder-accuseds-youtube-channel-gains-thousands-of-new-subscribers-following-charge-CS2WZ73YQRE27OH7HJJSCTHVAU/]
Irish Independent - Digital forensic analyst tells trial murder accused’s ‘live stream alibi’ was pre-recorded days before Natalie McNally was killed https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/digital-forensic-analyst-tells-trial-murder-accuseds-live-stream-alibi-was-pre-recorded-days-before-natalie-mcnally-was-killed/a1330357963.htmlhttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/digital-forensic-analyst-tells-trial-murder-accuseds-live-stream-alibi-was-pre-recorded-days-before-natalie-mcnally-was-killed/a954312861.html [https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/digital-forensic-analyst-tells-trial-murder-accuseds-live-stream-alibi-was-pre-recorded-days-before-natalie-mcnally-was-killed/a954312861.html]
Irish Independent - Natalie McNally’s ex-boyfriend arrested last week ‘over threats to kill woman’, court hears https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/natalie-mcnallys-ex-boyfriend-arrested-last-week-over-threats-to-kill-woman-court-hears/a1930609969.htmlhttps://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/natalie-mcnallys-ex-boyfriend-arrested-last-week-over-threats-to-kill-woman-court-hears/a/140398856.html [https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/natalie-mcnallys-ex-boyfriend-arrested-last-week-over-threats-to-kill-woman-court-hears/a/140398856.html]
Irish Legal News - Murder trial to continue despite barristers’ strike https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/murder-trial-to-continue-despite-barristers-strike [https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/murder-trial-to-continue-despite-barristers-strike?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
Wikipedia - Murder of Natalie McNally https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Natalie_McNally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Natalie_McNally]