Zak Hughes has been sentenced to life imprisonment after admitting the murder of his pregnant partner, Sarah Montgomery, and the destruction of her unborn child. Hughes, 29, of Ardglen Place in the Ardoyne area of Belfast, entered guilty pleas during a hearing at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.

Members of Ms Montgomery's family watched from the public gallery as the charges were read. The 27-year-old mother of two was attacked at her home on Elmfield Walk in Donaghadee, County Down, on 27 June 2025. She was pronounced dead at the scene after police were called at around 14:15 BST the following day. Her unborn son, whom she planned to name Liam Arthur, also died.

At the arraignment, Hughes stood in the dock flanked by prison officers. He replied "guilty" when the murder charge was put to him, and again when a charge of child destruction was read. The latter charge relates to an act causing the death of a child capable of being born alive before it had an existence independent of its mother.

Madam Justice McBride told Hughes that in light of his pleas, the only sentence available was life imprisonment. A tariff hearing to set the minimum term he must serve has been scheduled for 11 September 2026. Crown barrister Geraldine McCullough KC indicated victim impact statements would be submitted on behalf of Ms Montgomery's family, while the defence intends to obtain a pre-sentence report.

Following the hearing, Alliance Party spokesperson on violence against women and girls, North Down MLA Connie Egan, said her thoughts were with the family of Ms Montgomery and her baby. She expressed hope that the outcome would bring some accountability and called for a societal approach to preventing gender-based violence.