Zak Hughes, 29, from Belfast, has been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison for the murder of 27-year-old mother-of-two Sarah Montgomery and child destruction. Lady Justice McBride had previously imposed a life sentence and at Belfast Crown Court ordered that he serve a 20-year tariff before being considered for parole, describing the attack as a 'brutal, completely unjustified murder of a defenceless, heavily pregnant mother'.
Hughes, the on-off partner of Montgomery and father of her two young daughters, beat her to death in her flat in Donaghadee, County Down, in June 2025. Montgomery was 32 weeks pregnant and planned to name her baby Liam Arthur. The attack lasted 19 minutes, with at least 59 blows struck. Among the weapons was a water bottle Montgomery had bought Hughes as a Father's Day gift. The court heard that Hughes had lied about his fiancée losing a baby; when Montgomery confronted him, he launched the assault. Montgomery recorded part of the attack on her mobile phone, which Hughes later took before locking the door and leaving.
Lady Justice McBride said Montgomery's children would 'live with the devastating impact of losing their mother, knowing that their mother was murdered by you, their own father.' She called the killing 'another femicide in a long line of femicides in this jurisdiction' and noted it 'rightly invoked the abhorrence of right-thinking people.'
Police Service of Northern Ireland Detective Sergeant Jennifer Stevenson said Montgomery had 'everything to live for' and that 'the brutality of the defendant's actions was matched by his deceit.' Catherine Kierans, head of the Public Prosecution Service's Serious Crime Unit, described it as 'another horrendous case of domestic murder.'
After the attack, Hughes collected another child from school, bought a new outfit, discarded his bloodied clothes and Montgomery's phone and keys, and attended his fiancée's baby shower the following day. Montgomery's body was found by her grandfather, who told the court in a victim impact statement that he remains haunted. Hughes pleaded guilty to murder and child destruction in June 2026. The judge cited his guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors, but said the death of the unborn child was a key aggravating factor.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The murder of a pregnant mother by her partner highlights the lethal risk women face in abusive relationships, a pattern that persists across Northern Ireland and beyond.
- The children's loss of both parents, mother dead, father imprisoned, shows the multi-generational trauma inflicted by domestic violence.
- The judge's explicit use of the term 'femicide' draws public attention to the systematic nature of gender-based killings and the need for robust prevention.
Background
Domestic violence and femicide are long-standing concerns in Northern Ireland. The BBC has reported that 31 women have been killed in the region since 2020. The case echoes other high-profile murders, such as that of Natalie McNally in 2022, which also involved a pregnant victim. Hughes's sentence comes amid ongoing calls for stronger protections and support for victims.
What to Watch
- Whether the case leads to new policy measures or increased funding for domestic violence services in Northern Ireland.
- The possibility of an appeal or developments when Hughes becomes eligible for parole after 20 years.
- Continued reporting on femicide rates and judicial responses, which may shape public debate and legislative action.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedHughes was jailed for a minimum of 20 years for murder.BBC Northern Ireland: “The man who beat pregnant mother-of-two Sarah Montgomery to death has been jailed for a minimum of 20 years for murder and child destruction.”
- SupportedMontgomery was attacked in her Co Down home and struck at least 59 times.RTÉ News: “Hughes struck her at least 59 times in an attack that lasted almost 20 minutes in her home”
- SupportedThe judge said femicide is a real issue.RTÉ News: “the judge noted "femicide is a real issue in this jurisdiction".”
- SupportedMcBride had previously imposed a life sentence and ordered Hughes to serve a 20-year tariff before being considered for parole.RTÉ News: “Lady Justice McBride previously imposed a life sentence and today ordered that he serve a tariff of 20 years before he is considered for parole.”
- SupportedMcBride described the crime as a “brutal, completely unjustified murder of a defenceless, heavily pregnant mother”.BBC Northern Ireland: “The judge told Hughes he was guilty of the "brutal, completely unjustified murder of a defenceless, heavily pregnant mother".”
- SupportedMontgomery was 32 weeks pregnant and intended to name her baby Liam Arthur.RTÉ News: “Sarah Montgomery was 32 weeks pregnant when she was murdered by the baby's father, Zak Hughes, in her home in Co Down in June 2025. Hughes, from Ardglen Place in Ardoyne, Belfast pleaded guilty to her murder and to a charge of child destruction in relation to her unborn baby, whom Sarah Mongomery intended to name the baby Liam Arthur.”
- SupportedThe attack lasted 19 minutes.RTÉ News: “Inside the flat Hughes struck Ms Montgomery in what the prosecution described as a "cold blooded, systematic, murderous attack" which lasted 19 minutes.”
- SupportedHughes launched the assault after Montgomery confronted him about lying about his fiancée losing their baby.RTÉ News: “Judge McBride said it was "a brutal, savage and sustained attack" after she confronted him about lying about his fiancé losing their baby.”
- SupportedMcBride said Montgomery’s children would “live with the devastating impact of losing their mother, knowing that their mother was murdered by you, their own father.”BBC Northern Ireland: “The judge said Sarah's children now had to "live with the devastating impact of losing their mother, knowing that their mother was murdered by you, their own father".”
- SupportedMcBride called the killing “another femicide in a long line of femicides in this jurisdiction” and said the crime “rightly invoked the abhorrence of right-thinking people.”RTÉ News: “During a sentencing hearing comparisons were drawn with Stephen McCullagh's murder of his pregnant partner Natalie McNally in her home in Lurgan, Co Armagh in 2022, and the judge noted "femicide is a real issue in this jurisdiction". ... She said there was rightly public outrage and the crime "rightly invoked the abhorrence of right-thinking people".”
- SupportedPSNI Detective Sergeant Jennifer Stevenson said Montgomery had “everything to live for” and that “the brutality of the defendant's actions was matched by his deceit.”BBC Northern Ireland: “the Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) Det Sgt Jennifer Stevenson said Sarah had "everything to live for". ... "The brutality of the defendant's actions was matched by his deceit," she said.”
- SupportedCatherine Kierans described the killing as “another horrendous case of domestic murder.”BBC Northern Ireland: “Kierans described the killing as "another horrendous case of domestic murder"”