Natalie McNally: Man released on bail over murder of Lurgan woman

A man who was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Natalie McNally in Lurgan has been released on bail.

Ms McNally, who was 32, was 15 weeks pregnant when she was stabbed on 18 December at her home in Silverwood Green in Lurgan.

The 46-year-old man was arrested in south Belfast on Friday.

On Friday, police also released further CCTV of a suspect seen entering her street on the night she was killed.

Footage shows the suspect enter the Silverwood Green at 8.52pm travelling directly towards Natalie McNally's front door.

He is briefly illuminated by the reverse lights of a vehicle.

Two arrests have previously been made in connection with her murder but no-one has been charged.

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

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

Hundreds of house-to-house enquiries have been carried out and over 3,000 hours of CCTV footage has been seized, police have said.

Last Friday, detectives conducted a search of the council-owned Silverwood Golf Club grounds beside Ms McNally's home.

Earlier that week, a weapon believed to be used in the murder was recovered by police and is said to have come from her home.

• Police search golf club grounds over Natalie murder

• Natalie McNally 'should have been safe at home'

• Suspect seen in victim's street on night of stabbing

Officers believe Ms McNally knew her killer, that they had a pre-existing relationship and she felt comfortable inviting them into her home.

Det Ch Insp Neil McGuinness has said the PSNI remained "absolutely steadfast" to bringing Ms McNally's murderer to justice.

CCTV footage of a suspect in Ms McNally's murder was released previously by police.

It shows a man entering Silverwood Green at 20:52 GMT on Sunday, 18 December and leaving again at 21:30.

The charity Crimestoppers have offered a £20,000 reward for information about Ms McNally's killing.

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

THURSDAY 5 JANUARY

• Police say they have recovered the weapon used in the murder and that it came from Ms McNally's home

FRIDAY 6 JANUARY

• Police carry out searches in the grounds of Silverwood Golf Club in Lurgan

SUNDAY 8 JANUARY

• Police revisit the murder scene in Lurgan three weeks after Ms McNally's death

FRIDAY 13 JANUARY

• A 46-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of Ms McNally's murder was released on bail