Natalie McNally murder: Family tell of grief over daughter's death

The parents of Natalie McNally have spoken of their grief after the mother-to-be was murdered in her home before Christmas.

The 32 year old was 15 weeks pregnant when she was stabbed to death at Silverwood Green in Lurgan on 18 December.

Her mother Bernie told BBC News NI that she was "my best friend".

"We have to try to face our lives without her and I don't know how we're going to do it," she added.

Ms McNally's father Noel said his daughter was "so happy and so content with life".

"Then somebody came and took that away from us," he said.

Natalie McNally had celebrated her 32nd birthday with her parents in October

Two arrests have been made but no-one has been charged over the murder.

Mr McNally appealed for his daughter's killer to "find it in his heart to give himself up to the police".

Police believe that Ms McNally was attacked on the night of Sunday 18 December and they have said she may have known her killer.

Bernie McNally described her daughter as "strong and fiercely independent", adding that she "campaigned tirelessly for women's rights and equality".

"She was the best daughter anybody could ever wish for. I don't know what I'm going to do without her," she said.

"For somebody to go into her home and do this to her, I just can't comprehend it."

'Committed to delivering justice'

The victim's family said they were confident in the police investigation into the murder, with a senior detective promising to work "tirelessly" to find Ms McNally's killer.

Her brother Declan said the family had been assured that detectives were "throwing everything" at the inquiry.

"We're very confident in the police... they are liaising with us regularly," Mr McNally told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme.

Natalie McNally was expecting a baby boy when she was killed in December

A 32-year-old man arrested on Monday 19 December was released the next day and is no longer a suspect.

Another 32-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday 21 December and has been released on police bail while detectives continue their inquiries.

Det Ch Insp Neil McGuinness said the investigation was "very complex" but he was "committed to delivering justice for Natalie and the community in Lurgan".

"I spent time with the [McNally] family over the Christmas period and saw the devastation in their eyes," he said.

"I looked at them in the eye and told them that our team will work tirelessly in order to do all we can to bring the person to justice."

'Support gets us through'

The charity Crimestoppers has offered a £20,000 reward for information about the murder.

Declan McNally said the family had been left devastated by his sister's death.

"People say it's your worst nightmare but you would never have a nightmare like this - it's just unbelievable," he said.

"We need justice because that's all we've got left now - to find out who and why they did this to Natalie."

"We can't reiterate enough that if anyone has any information whatsoever, even if it seems insignificant, bring it to police or bring it to Crimestoppers."

• Funeral takes place for Lurgan stabbing victim

Mr McNally said the family had received "unbelievable" support in the weeks since the killing.

"From the people of Lurgan, people all around the country, people from every church, every political party - everyone's been in touch and everyone's thinking of us," he said.

"We read every message and that's what's getting us through."

A funeral service was held at Natalie McNally's parents' home in Craigavon last week

Last week police renewed their appeal for information about Ms McNally's murder.

They had previously released CCTV footage of a suspect near her home.

It shows a man carrying a rucksack arriving at Silverwood Green on Sunday 18 December at 20:52 GMT.

The man is then seen leaving Silverwood Green at 21:30.

Mr McGuinness appealed to Ms McNally's murderer to hand themselves in.

"The McNally family… are living out any family's worst nightmare and they're doing it with extreme dignity," he said.

"Stop the anguish... come forward because at some point I will come knocking at your door."

Investigation timeline

SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER

• 20:52 - Man carrying rucksack seen on CCTV arriving in Natalie McNally's street, Silverwood Green

• 21:30 - CCTV footage shows man leaving Silverwood Green

MONDAY 19 DECEMBER

• 22:00 - Emergency services called to Ms McNally's house. She is pronounced dead and a man in his 30s is arrested on suspicion of murder

TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER

• Suspect released. Cause of Ms McNally's death is not confirmed but police say they are treating it as "suspicious"

WEDNESDAY 21 DECEMBER

• 18:00 - Police say Ms McNally suffered several stab wounds, some of which were defensive, and are treating her death as murder

• 23:52 - 32-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder

THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER

• 15:45 - CCTV footage released of man with rucksack

• 19:50 - 32-year-old man released on police bail