A YouTuber who allegedly staged a videogaming livestream to provide an alibi for the murder of Natalie McNally in Co Armagh has been remanded in custody for a further four weeks.
Ms McNally, 32, who was 15 weeks pregnant, was stabbed at her home in Silverwood Green, Lurgan, on the night of December 18.
Stephen McCullagh, 32, from Woodland Gardens, Lisburn, was previously arrested on December 19 but released and ruled out as a suspect. He was rearrested on January 31.
Appearing before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday via video link, the case was adjourned for a further four weeks.
McCullagh is due to appear again via video link on the morning of Friday March 24.
Stephen McCullagh, 32, has been charged with the murder after allegedly faking a six-hour live stream as an alibi – and has been remanded in custody
Natalie McNally, 32, who was 15 weeks pregnant, was stabbed in her home in Lurgan on December 18
At a remand hearing at Lisburn Magistrates’ Court earlier this month, a judge was told that McCullagh staged a live broadcast on YouTube on the night of the murder, with footage appearing to show him playing the video game Grand Theft Auto for six hours.
The court heard that McCullagh had been ruled out as a suspect on the basis of the alleged livestream alibi.
A senior detective told the court that extensive technical examination of his devices by cyber experts indicated the footage was pre-recorded and played out as if it was live.
The court also heard that while McCullagh denies involvement in Ms McNally’s murder, he conceded in a statement to police that the purported livestream was pre-recorded days earlier.
Police Service of Northern Ireland Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness previously noted that on the footage McCullagh tells his 37,000 subscribers that he is unable to interact with them live due to technical issues.
The video, which is still available online, shows McCullagh playing Grand Theft Auto Vice City on an Xbox console.
He describes the livestream as ‘a little bit out of the blue.’
McCullagh (top right) launched the stream allegedly as a fake alibi for Ms McNally’s murder
A judge said McCullagh’s alleged actions are ‘particularly hurtful to the McNally family who, as everyone in Northern Ireland is aware, have exercised enormous forbearance and welcomed this man into their home’
The Public Prosecution lawyer said Stephen McCullagh could potentially interfere with witnesses if bailed (Pictured: Natalie McNally)
PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness noted that on the footage McCullagh tells his 37,000 subscribers that he is unable to interact with them live due to technical issues
McCullagh was dressed in a black t-shirt with a Santa-style Christmas hat at the time of the stream, and at points was seen vaping and pouring himself a beer.
He told his followers he had ‘no idea’ how long the stream would last, adding he had not done a stream previously due to work commitments and ‘stuff in my private life.’
‘It’s all been a bit of a nightmare’.
McCullagh said: ‘This stream I am very worried about. It could end at any moment because I’ve been trying to set this up… the computer was having none of it.
He claimed he would be unable to see his followers’ comments on the stream due to technical issues, adding: ‘The quality of this whole stream is a little bit c**p.’
He then said he had put his phone away.
The stream goes on for more than six hours and sees him talking to his followers as if he is playing the game live.
The court heard that McCullagh and Ms McNally had been exchanging messages on the afternoon before she was killed in which he told her he was going to be livestreaming that evening.
The judge denied McCullagh bail during the hearing on February 3.
