Ray McEntee, 68, was found dead in his cell at HMP Altcourse in the early hours of Friday, July 18. A Home Office post-mortem concluded he died from pressure to the neck and blunt force trauma to the head, according to Merseyside Police.
Tribute from ex-wife
His former wife, Wendy Dale, 63, from the Isle of Man, met Ray when they were both 16. They married and moved to Ireland, but later separated, and Wendy returned to the Isle of Man with their two children. More than three decades later, Ray got back in touch, and they became close friends.
Wendy said: "He phoned me one day out of the blue. He was wanting to remarry and everything, but I'd just come out of my second marriage after 26 years, so I wasn't ready for anything other than a friendship."
"We still carried on talking because he phoned me or WhatsApped me every day and we'd speak for two and three hours at a time. I just wanted the friendship side because he was a brilliant friend."
Support during illness
Wendy recalled Ray's support when she feared she had cancer: "Just two years ago I had a lump on my neck that they thought was cancerous, and for over two and a half years he was flying over here to the Isle of Man to bring me to Liverpool. He came as my escort on the plane every time."
"Every day we went to Douglas he'd take me into the church and he'd do prayers and hope that I'd get through everything. He supported me all the way through that."
Remembering Ray
Wendy described Ray as a "good man" who struggled with alcoholism in recent years. "He had a heart of gold, but the drink let him down. He wouldn't walk past anybody without giving them the time of day. He got on with everybody. Ray was absolutely brilliant with the kids. He was a fantastic father to his kids."
In September last year, Ray was reported missing from his home in Crossmaglen before being found in Southport by Merseyside Police. Wendy said he left behind most of his possessions, including his dog, Roxy, who he left in the care of his sister. She said: "I managed to get in touch with him and he said he wasn't missing, and that he was fine. That was the last time I spoke to him."
Court proceedings
Martin Wainwright, 54, a prisoner at HMP Altcourse at the time, has been charged with Ray's murder. Wainwright appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Monday (August 3) for a bail determination hearing before Judge Neil Flewitt KC. Appearing via video link from HMP Liverpool, the defendant, dressed in a prison-issue green and yellow tracksuit, was represented by Damian Nolan, who confirmed there was no application for bail.
Judge Flewitt KC set a provisional trial date of January 25 next year, with the case expected to last between seven and 10 days. A plea and trial preparation hearing was fixed for October 23.
