The trial of a man charged with the murder of a pregnant woman in Co Armagh a week before Christmas in 2022 is due to get under way next month after barristers involved in the case exempted it from strike action.
Natalie McNally, aged 32, was 15 weeks pregnant when she was killed in her home in Silverwood Green in Lurgan.
The trial of Stephen McCullagh, aged 35, from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, had been due to begin in Belfast Crown Court in November but was adjourned because of legal submissions. He denies the charge.
It had been due to get under way on Monday, but it was one of a number of cases impacted by a withdrawal of services by barristers in a long-running dispute over legal aid fees.
While the industrial action which began on 5 January is continuing, the Criminal Bar Association and the Public Prosecution Service have held talks about a limited number of cases where there may be "extenuating circumstances".
As a result of those discussions it was agreed that the Natalie McNally murder trial should be exempted.
The trial has now been listed to commence with jury selection on 16 February.
Welcoming the decision to exempt the case, Judge Mr Justice Kinney said the decision was "appreciated by the court and I'm sure the family".
