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Damien Edgar

"A brilliant, amazing woman and I love her" - brother pays tribute to Lurgan murder victim Natalie McNally

Murdered mum-to-be Natalie McNally was the "type of person who would have helped anyone", her brother has said at a vigil held near her Lurgan home.

Niall McNally spoke following the vigil, which was organised by the local community who wished to pay their respects and show support for the McNally family.

The 32-year-old, who was 15 weeks pregnant, she was stabbed to death in her home in Silverwood Green on Sunday night.

Read more: Natalie McNally: PSNI release footage in connection to murder of pregnant woman in Lurgan

In poignant and touching scenes, Natalie's friends and family released balloons into the night sky on Friday to maker her passing and that of her unborn baby.

Niall spoke to Belfast Live after the event and thanked those who had rallied round the family in their darkest hour.

"It's absolutely fantastic, it was a statement from the residents of Silverwood Green who have been absolutely brilliant," he said.

"What the community has brought together is unbelievable - they've been absolutely brilliant and they've given great comfort to our family.

Natalie McNally (PSNI)

"What I am is I'm keeping strong and what I'm doing, I'm doing for my sister and my family and that's all that really matters at this moment in time."

Niall said Natalie had felt welcome among the people in Silverwood before her tragic murder and that had been reflected in the large crowd that turned out.

"I remember a time Natalie was telling me all the children loved her cats, and unfortunately one of her cats had to be put down," he said.

"And how all the children were devastated in the area and they had written her letters of support and everything.

"It's such a little thing, but I feel for the residents that they've had to go through this and have to live with this, they're still living here.

"The amount of support and people here tonight is more than I could ever imagine.

"They've all been brilliant, great members of the community and even the wider community that have sent us messages too."

He said his sister had been much loved and that she had always been a source of great comfort to him.

"You couldn't have said a bad word about our Natalie, she loved everybody," he said.

"Natalie was a diabetic for most of her life and four years ago I was diagnosed as a diabetic and she was the first person up to the hospital that day.

"She talked me through everything and any time I had a question for her she would have answered it.

"In general, she was a lovely person who loved her family and friends, she was very into her activism and loved her pets.

"She would do anything for anyone, that's the type of person she was, a brilliant, amazing woman and I love her.

"I'd like to appeal to anyone who has any information to come forward to speak to the police or Crimestoppers to help put this person behind bars."

Two men have been arrested by police investigating her murder, but have since been released on bail.

Police have also released CCTV footage of a suspect who was filmed as they entered Silverwood Green where she lived, 24 hours before her murder was confirmed.

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