The heartbroken fiancee of an Irishman shot dead in Australia says his children ask for their daddy every day.
Linda Simon told how she had planned to wed the love of her life, 38-year-old Damien Conlon, later this year.
Now the devastated mum-of-four is preparing to fly his ashes home to his grieving family in Co Sligo.
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Damien was shot dead at his home in the village of Oberon in New South Wales on February 9.
Linda’s father, army veteran Luke Simon, 57, was arrested at the scene and later charged with murder.
She told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “We were due to get married in November of this year.
“We had deposits paid on the venue, the church and everything, but unfortunately that will never be. That is the hardest part, all the plans we had for the future and watching our children growing up without him.
“We just take it day by day now, that is all we can do.”
Damien was dad to Mason, two, and 11-month-old Elias and stepdad to Linda’s sons from a previous relationship, Brodie and Joseph.
Linda said: “We have two little boys, the older one still walks around the house looking for him.
“There’s memories of happiness and joy when we remember the good times, but then it just hits you that that’s all gone now.”
Refusing to speak her father’s name, she added: “I want to make sure justice is done.
“There has been no contact since he was arrested and, to be honest with you, I don’t want to.
“As far as I’m concerned that man does not exist to me.”
A funeral service was held for Damien in Bathurst on Thursday before Linda hopes to bring his remains back to Ireland.
She is in regular contact with his heartbroken parents Ethel and Dermot and his sister Leanna is with her in Australia.
Linda told how Damien’s injuries were so catastrophic that they could not have an open casket or fly his body back to Ireland for burial.
She said: “Unfortunately we were unable to send his body back to Ireland considering the condition.
“Due to the condition of his body it was not achievable, that was one discussion we were having as a family.
“He will be cremated and his ashes will come back to Ireland with me and the kids.
“His sister is here, and his brother plans to come and join us and fly him home.
“His family will inter his ashes in Sligo.”
Damien, a carpenter by trade, moved to Australia in 2011 and the couple met in 2019 via a dating website.
Linda said she knew straight away he was “the one” and he felt the same.
She added: “We hit it off from the very first date. We decided that was it, we didn’t need to meet anyone else.
“He was a devoted dad, also a devoted stepfather, he absolutely doted on all of them.
“He always enjoyed showing the children woodwork, he was avid lover of motorbikes, it was just... these are the things we just miss. It really is so tough. But his family have been fantastic support for us, absolutely fantastic.”
Damien’s funeral service at the Cathedral of St Michael and St John in Bathurst heard how he was “an extraordinary man”.
Linda said: “Everyone is struggling with it because nobody can say a bad word about this man.
“He was such a good bloke. He was funny, he was loving, he was kind, he was generous.
“He was the sort of fella you’d ring at midnight and say, ‘My shower is broken’ and he’d jump out of bed, put his boots on and come over to help.
“That’s the kind of man he was.One example is an architect he spoke to, they never met but they spoke on the phone.
“He’s flying 20 hours to be at his funeral, that’s how much people loved him.”
A eulogy by Damien’s best friend Mina read out at his funeral service echoed the same sentiment.
He said: “We both moved in next door to each other weeks apart at Jordan Springs in 2016. From the moment I met him we clicked.
“Damien was one-of-a-kind, larger than life, always living in the fast lane. He was loud, ambitious, one hell of a builder.
“Always the first one who would drop everything regardless and help, and zero judgement.
“He had so many dreams he wanted to fulfil with his family and to marry his love Linda.
“Linda and Damien were always destined to find each other and spend their lives by each other’s side.”
Damien was known to pals as Mad Dog – a nickname Linda said suited him. She added: “It’s something I came to learn over time, he was a character, he was a wild card. He liked to have a laugh and a joke and was always in good humour.
“Nothing could get him down.”
A fund to help with the cost of bringing Damien’s ashes home has raised more than AUS$5,000 and Linda is hoping they reach their $20,000 target in time.
She added: “If we get the funds we are hoping to get him home to Ireland on March 13, we should be back for the St Patrick’s weekend.
“He always celebrated Paddy’s Day over here, there would be a fair few pints of Guinness.
“Everyone knew him in the Irish pub in town, Jack Duggan’s.
“As soon as they saw the ute [truck] pulling up they would have a pint on tap for him.”
- To support the family in bringing Damien home visit the Remembering Damien page on GoFundMe.com.
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