The alleged murderer of Irishman Damian Conlon is his own father-in-law, it has emerged.
The Irish Mirror has confirmed that accused Luke Simon, 57, is the father of Mr Conlon’s wife Linda – who has been left devastated by his gun death.
Mr Simon is alleged to have shot dead Sligo native Mr Conlon at his home in the village of Oberon in New South Wales on Thursday morning.
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The disabled Australian Army veteran was arrested at the scene of the shooting and local cops also seized a firearm.
He was charged with murder and appeared in court in the nearby town of Bathurst yesterday morning.
Mr Simon was remanded in custody and was told he would be locked up for seven weeks before his next hearing.
The court heard there were health concerns about the accused’s condition, but he was refused bail and is due back in court on April 5.
Mr Conlon was originally from Sligo and ran an excavating company and had lived in the area for several years.
Police were called to the property on Jenolan Street shortly after 8am on Thursday where they found Mr Conlon suffering a gunshot wound to the head. He died at the scene. Mr Conlon came from a well-respected family in Sligo and his death has shocked the entire town.
His parents Dermot and Ethel Conlon were being comforted by family and friends last night.
He has a brother serving with the Defence Forces on a UN peacekeeping operation overseas, sources revealed.
Damian moved from his home town in Sligo to Australia over 12 years ago to start a new life when the recession hit.
In a now moving interview with a local paper in Bathurst two years ago when he received his Australian citizenship, Damian said “This is the best country in the world.
“There’s no better place to live, I reckon.”
He initially went to Australia on a year-long working holiday visa.
However, things evolved from there and Damian, a carpenter by trade, successfully set up two businesses which led to a large excavation business, called L&D Excavation.
In the interview, Damian said: “I’ve travelled across Australia, so I’ve only been in Bathurst for just about a year and four months, but it’s lovely,” adding he’d settle down there.
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