A BITTER ex-husband who arrived at divorce proceedings with a six-inch kitchen knife and a home-made gun has been found dead in his prison cell.
Patrick McCarthy, 63, of Anchor Lane, Abbess Roding, was on remand facing a charge of attempting to murder his ex-wife after turning up to Chelmsford County Court with nine shotgun cartridges on July 2
He was found unconscious in his cell at HMP Chelmsford at 7.50am on July 22.
Two days after his arrest, Chelmsford magistrates heard how, after separating from Mrs McCarthy in July 2012, his firearm licence was revoked for fear of his ex-wife's safety.
He was served a molestation order but sent her texts and e-mails and visited her mother.
He was arrested outside court on July 2 and charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing illegal ammunition and a knife in a public place.
Prosecutors were also asking for him to be charged with attempted murder.
The Independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is now investigating his death.
A prison spokesman said: "Patrick McCarthy was found unresponsive in his cell at 7.50am on July 22. He was pronounced dead at 8.15am."
His brother John said: "I haven't got one good word to say about him."
