Culture
13 Jan 23

Man arrested in relation to murder of pregnant Natalie McNally

Natalie McNally was 15 weeks pregnant with a baby boy.

Detectives investigating the murder of Natalie McNally in Lurgan have arrested a 46-year-old man in south Belfast.

He has been taken to Musgrave Police Station where he is currently being questioned by detectives.

32-year-old Natalie McNally was found stabbed to death at her home at Silverwood Green in Lurgan, Armagh on December 18.

Natalie was murdered just days before she was due to attend a medical scan, which would have told her that she was 15 weeks pregnant with a baby boy.

She also sustained head and neck injuries in the attack.

Detectives had issued CCTV footage of the main suspect arriving in Natalie McNally's street on the night of the murder and leaving around 40 minutes later.

Police investigating the murder believe "with a high degree of certainty" that a man captured on CCTV entered the victim's home.

Footage of a suspect previously released by police shows a man entering the Silverwood Green area at 8.52pm that night, before he is seen walking away again at 9.30pm.

In new footage, the same suspect makes his way through the development and towards Natalie's front door. Police say in the short clip he can be seen "briefly illuminated by the reverse lights of a vehicle". Although poor quality, the footage will be crucial in helping detectives link the suspect to Natalie's home.

"The CCTV footage allowed detectives investigating to believe, with a high degree of certainty, that the suspect seen entering Silverwood Green on CCTV then enters Natalie’s house,” a PSNI spokeswoman said.

Police also seized a car for forensic examination and a £20,000 reward has been issued by Crimestoppers for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her killer.

Her family has been urging people to help bring the culprit to justice, saying their daughter suffered a brutal death. Her father Noel told of how he later struggled to identify her body.

Women's Aid 24-hour freephone helpline: 1800 341 900
Women's Aid Federation NI helpline: 028 2563 2136