Life sentence for man who murdered heavily pregnant woman
PSNIA man has pleaded guilty to murdering mother-of-two, Sarah Montgomery in Donaghadee in 2025.
Zak Hughes, 29, from Ardglen Place in Ardoyne also pleaded guilty to a charge of child destruction.
Sarah was heavily pregnant with her third child when she was killed in her home.
She had planned to call her son Liam Arthur.
FacebookIn court on Friday, Zak Hughes stood in the dock and was asked to confirm his name.
The charge of murdering Sarah Montgomery on 27 June was read to him and he was asked whether he pleaded guilty or not guilty.
He responded guilty.
The charge of child destruction was then put to him.
Again, he responded guilty.
The judge, Madam Justice McBride, said that in light of the pleas, the only sentence she could impose was that of a life sentence.
What happened to Sarah Montgomery?
On 28 June 2025, the PSNI received a report at about 14:15 BST that a woman was unconscious inside a house in the Elmfield Walk area of the town.
She had sustained a serious injury.
Sarah Montgomery was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Following her murder, hundreds of people attended a vigil in Donaghadee to mourn and honour the young woman and her unborn child.
During the vigil, friends described how the mother-of-two had also cared for her two autistic brothers and elderly grandparents.
Sarah was described as a "vibrant individual" who "lived for her two girls who were so excited to have a baby brother join their little family".
The tariff hearing is set for the 11 September 2026.
