Thousands of paramilitary attacks have been carried out in NI since the Good Friday agreement.  Often, they are attacked by appointment – people turn up to be shot. Sometimes children are even accompanied by their parents, drugged up to dull the pain.   

 Youth worker Stephen Hughes is based in Divis in west Belfast, he is active in the pressure group Stop Attacks which works to end these attacks forever.  He spoke to Ciaran Dunbar.

The BelTel brings you some of Northern Ireland's top journalists, Allison Morris, Sam McBride and Suzanne Breen to name but a few, giving you the inside stories behind what is in the news. Presented by Ciarán Dunbar, the Bel Tel investigates, debates and informs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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Punishment attacks: ‘What does it say about us that we tolerate the beating, shooting and abuse of our children?’ 

The trial of the man accused of murdering Natalie McNally is continuing in Belfast. 36-year-old Stephen McCullagh of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, denies murdering Ms McNally. She was fifteen weeks pregnant when was killed at her home in Lurgan in December 2022. On Tuesday, the state pathologist outlined the injuries she sustained in a prolonged attack – including defence wounds as she tried to fight off her attacker.  

On Wednesday, the jury heard that experts from the PSNI’s cyberteam determined McCullagh’s six-hour stream on YouTube was not in fact live at all but had been recorded some days before. The crown’s case is that this constituted a false alibi.  

Allison Morris was in court. 

Stephen McCullagh trial: Jury shown YouTube ‘live stream’ from night Natalie McNally was killed 

The murder of a pregnant woman in Co Armagh a week before Christmas in 2022 has been described in a Belfast court as “planned, calculated and pre-meditated”.  32-yearold Natalie McNally was 15 weeks’ pregnant when she was attacked and killed in her Lurgan home. 36-year-old Stephen McCullagh, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, has denied her murder. The prosecution set out its case on Monday. 

Allison Morris, the Belfast Telegraph crime correspondent, reports. 

Stephen McCullagh trial: Prosecution claims Natalie McNally murder was “planned, calculated and pre-meditated” 

The trial of the man accused of the murder of Lurgan woman Natalie McNally has begun.   

32-year-old Natalie McNally was 15 weeks pregnant when she was stabbed to death at her home in December 2022.   

35-year-old Stephen McCullagh, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, has denied the charge.     

The Belfast Telegraph’s crime correspondent Allison Morris reports.  

Punishment attacks: ‘What does it say about us that we tolerate the beating, shooting and abuse of our children?’

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