Former YouTuber Stephen McCullagh has filed an appeal against his life sentence for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend Natalie McNally. The latest legal move comes just weeks after the sentencing at Belfast Crown Court. Reports say the Public Prosecution Service has been informed of the appeal, while McCullagh also faces security concerns inside prison. The case attracted worldwide attention when prosecutors revealed that he had allegedly used a pre-recorded Grand Theft Auto (GTA) livestream as a fake alibi to make it appear that he was at home at the time of the murder.
Stephen McCullagh challenges life sentence after fraud conviction gta livestream excuse In the case of girlfriend’s murder
Former Northern Ireland YouTuber Stephen McCullagh, 36, has officially appealed against his life sentence after being convicted of murdering his pregnant girlfriend Natalie McNally.McCullagh was found guilty in March after a five-week trial. On 3 June, Belfast Crown Court sentenced him to life imprisonment and ordered that he must serve a minimum of 31 years before being considered for parole.According to reports, the Public Prosecution Service has now been informed that McCullagh has appealed against the sentence. However, the appeal will not change his sentence for now. Until a higher court reviews the case and makes a decision, his life sentence will remain intact.One of the most talked about parts of the trial was the alleged fake YouTube livestream that prosecutors said McCullagh used as an alibi. Investigators discovered that the six-hour Grand Theft Auto livestream, which was presented as live, was actually recorded four days earlier.During the broadcast, McCullagh reportedly told the audience that he could not talk due to technical problems. Prosecutors argued that the video was played to show that he was home at the time of the murder. When sentencing, Mr Justice Kinney described the staged livestream as a “integral” Part of a murder plan.
Reports claim McCullagh faces security concerns inside prison
As well as news of the appeal, reports have also highlighted McCullagh’s conditions inside Maghaberry prison.According to The Mirror, the convicted YouTuber is being held in the prison’s Moyola hospital wing, which is separate from the general prison population. Sources cited in the report claimed that prison officials are taking extra precautions because they believe he may face threats from other inmates.Crimes involving pregnant women or children are reported to be viewed particularly harshly by many prisoners, making McCullagh one of the prison’s most high-profile inmates. Authorities have reportedly isolated him from the broader prison population while his appeal moves through the legal system.At this time, no hearing date or decision on the appeal has been announced. McCullagh’s life sentence will remain unchanged, and he will continue serving his prison sentence unless a higher court orders otherwise. As the appeals process continues, the case remains one of the most closely watched criminal cases in Northern Ireland, due to both the murder conviction and the unusual use of a fake GTA livestream as an alleged alibi.