Natalie McNally murder trial to proceed next month

The trial of a man accused of murdering Natalie McNally is to proceed next month, after the judge said he was "grateful" it will not be impacted by a strike by barristers.

At a hearing on Wednesday, Mr Justice Kinney set 16 February for the commencement of the trial.

Natalie, 32, was 15 weeks pregnant when she was killed at her home in Lurgan, County Armagh, in December 2022.

Her family had previously been warned of a potential delay to the trial of Stephen McCullagh, 35, from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, who denies her murder.

McCullagh attended court on Wednesday via a videolink from custody.

Scheduling the case for trial, the judge said: "This is a trial which has received its exemption from the ongoing action and I'm grateful for that."

Barristers withdrew services from all legally aided criminal trials in crown courts from 5 January in a dispute about rates of pay.

The strike has caused serious disruption to many trials.

However, the Criminal Bar Association has decided to make an exception in Ms McNally's case.

Her family were in court when the judge said the trial would go ahead next month.