Australian man admits shooting dead his Irish future son-in-law
Damien Conlon, 38, who grew up in the Fort Hill area of Sligo, was fatally shot near his home in New South Wales in February of last year
A 58-year-old man has admitted murdering his Irish future son-in-law in Australia replying “Yes, your honour” to confirm his guilty plea.
Wheelchair-bound Luke Simon, 58, of Jenolan Street, Oberon, appeared by video-link from Silverwater jail to Sydney Supreme Court.
Dressed in prison greens, he admitted fatally shooting Damien Conlon, his daughter Linda’s fiance, on February 9, 2023 at a house in Oberon.
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Simon initially pleaded guilty to the charge at Bathurst Local Court on June 12.
The court heard police were called to the house around 8am on that Thursday morning and found Mr Conlon, from Co Sligo, with a gunshot wound.
Simon was arrested at the scene and taken to Bathurst Police Station, where he was charged with murder, and refused bail.
Asked if he wanted a sentence hearing in Bathurst, the accused cited health issues and asked to stay close to his medical unit in the Sydney jail.
Simon told Justice H Wilson: “The reason I’m shaking my head, Your Honour, is because I’ve got specific medical needs... “I’m in a disabled cell.”
Justice Wilson asked Simon to confirm his plea before setting a date for sentence hearing in Sydney.
“Really, it’s a question whether there are people local who wish to attend the sentence and would be disadvantaged if he were sentenced in Sydney,” Justice Wilson said.
A conviction was formally recorded for Simon as his next court date set for November 7, 2024 before the Sydney Supreme Court.
Simon nodded and waved to the court as his case was adjourned.
Mr Conlon, 38, worked in hospitality in Sligo town before he emigrated. He worked as a carpenter in the construction industry in Australia.
He was formally declared an Australian citizen in June 2021 and he and his fiancee Linda Simon had planned to wed in November of last year.
The couple shared two children together, three-year-old Mason and two-year-old Elias. Damien was also stepfather to Linda’s sons Brodie and Joseph.
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