Father-of-four, 38, shot dead in Australia as his fiancée’s own FATHER is charged with his murder

A mother of four has revealed her heartbreak after her own father was accused of murdering her fiancé.

Linda Simon’s partner Damien Conlon, 38, was shot dead on February 9 in Oberon in New South Wales, Australia, while the family was on holiday.

Linda’s father, army veteran Luke Simon, 57, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder.

The grieving fiancé, who was due to marry Damien in November this year, now plans to have his ashes flown back home to Co. Sligo in Ireland.

The couple shared two children together, two-year-old Mason and eleven-month-old Elias, with Damien, also a loving stepfather to Linda’s sons from her previous relationship, Brodie and Joseph.

Linda, who now refuses to pronounce her father’s name, told the Irish mirror: ‘We have two boys, the eldest is still walking around the house looking for him.’

She added that she has had no contact with her father since the shooting.

“As far as I’m concerned, that man doesn’t exist for me,” she said, adding that she wanted justice done.

Linda told the paper she held a funeral for her late fiancé last week before preparing to fly his ashes home to prepare for a future without him.

Linda (right) revealed her youngest child Elias is walking around the house looking for his father after Damien’s death

Damien (pictured) moved from Co. Sligo in Ireland to Australia and is a carpenter by trade

Damien and Linda got to know each other in 2019 through a dating site and according to the mother of four, the spark immediately flew

Damien (left) was a stepfather to Linda’s two eldest sons and shared two younger sons with Linda

She claimed that Damien’s injuries from the shooting were so catastrophic that they could not have an open coffin at the funeral and that she was unable to fly his body back to Ireland for burial.

As she processes the devastation of Damien’s loss, his sister Leanna is with her in Australia. She also revealed that she is in regular contact with Damien’s parents Ethel and Dermot, who are back home in Ireland.

Meanwhile, she has Damien’s body cremated. When she returns home with the ashes, she will return them to his family for burial.

Recalling how she met Damien, a carpenter who first moved to Australia in 2011, in 2019, Linda said the pair had an instant spark and she knew early on that he was “the one”.

As the pair built a relationship together, she revealed how Damien adored all four of her children.

“He always loved showing the kids woodwork, he was an avid motorcycle enthusiast, it was just… these are the things we just miss. It’s really that heavy. But his family has been a fantastic support to us, absolutely fantastic,” she said.

Damien’s nickname was “Mad Dog,” which Linda felt suited him well – a reflection of his big “wild card” personality and positive attitude.

Linda now hopes to raise enough money to bring Damien’s ashes home to Co. in time. Sligo for St Patrick’s Day.

On March 4, Linda posted a message on the page thanking people for their support.

She wrote, “From the bottom of my heart I want to thank everyone who has donated so far.

“The next step on the journey to our new normal is to bring myself, Damien and our boys back to Ireland so that the family and friends in Ireland can put Damien to rest and shut down. Any help getting us to Ireland would be greatly appreciated.’

Click to donate to the family’s GoFundMe page here