Woman's grief as her father is convicted of murdering her fiancé

A mother-of-four has spoken of her terrible grief after her own father was convicted of murdering her 'kind and caring' fiancé in a powerful victim impact statement. 

Linda Simon branded army veteran Luke Simon - who earlier admitted killing Irishman Damien Conlon - a 'coward' as she told a court in Australia how his actions have 'robbed' her children of a father's love. 

Damien was shot dead by Simon, 57, at his home in Oberon in New South Wales, Australia, on February 9, 2023.  

Linda delivered her statement before Justice Sarah McNaughton at Sydney Supreme Court on November 7, ahead of Simon's sentencing early next year. 

Overcome with grief, she urged the judge to 'give us peace of mind that we do not have to live in fear of Luke walking the streets and having to see him' and said she feels a 'tremendous amount of survivor's guilt' in the wake of Damien's death. 

During the trial, the court heard how Simon 'lured' Damien to his house under false pretenses and told him to 'get on your knees and confess; before shooting the 38-year-old. 

Damien escaped from the house but only made it to the garden where Simon allegedly shot him in the head and said 'bye-bye Damien' as he did so, according to  Australian news outlet Western Advocate. 

Simon confessed to Damian's murder in August when he appeared before Sydney Supreme Court via video link. 

Linda told the court how Simon's 'cold, callous and calculated actions took away a son, a father, a brother, a loving partner, and a good friend to many from this world', according to The Irish Mirror. 

Damien's grieving fiancée admitted she felt a 'tremendous amount of survivor's guilt' for not being with him when he was killed, adding he died 'alone, cold and scared'. 

She also branded Simon a 'coward' who could not face Damien 'like a man and have a conversation with him like a human being'. 

 'You only had one intention in mind when you lured him into your home and that was that Damien would not be alive after he entered your house.'

In her moving statement, Linda told the court how her and Damien's children have been affected by his tragic death - adding 'so much will be missed out on'. 

She mourned the fact that her toddlers will grow up without Damien's love, counting out all the significant life events like their first day of school or when they get married 'when boys need their father'. 

'Luke Simon's crime has made it so they will never have that opportunity to feel that connection, love and support from their father, who would have given them that and so much more,' Linda, who was due to marry Damien last Novemeber, added. 

She spoke about Damien's heartbroken parents Dermot and Ethel back in Ireland, and how they 'struggle daily' to accept that he was taken from them in such a awful way. 

Linda also accused Simon of robbing Damien's loved ones of the chance to properly say goodbye to him. 

She said she will 'replay these tragic event for the rest of my life' and urged the judge to 'give Damien the justice he deserves' and put his 'killer behind bars'. 

Simon's sentencing date is likely to be fixed next month. 

Linda and Damien shared two children together, two-year-old Mason and 11-month-old Elias, with Damien also a loving stepfather to Linda's sons from her previous relationship, Brodie and Joseph.

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 doted on all four of her children.

'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,' she said.

Damien's nickname was 'Mad Dog', which Linda said suited him well - reflecting his big 'wild card' personality and positive attitude.

Linda, who now refuses to utter her father's name, previously told The Irish Mirror how her older son Mason 'still walks around the house looking for' Damien.

She also claimed Damien's injuries from the shooting were so catastrophic, they were unable to have an open casket at the funeral and she could not fly his body back to Ireland in its condition to be buried.

The Ireland native emigrated to Australia 12 years ago, with Damien receiving his citizenship in 2021. 

Linda and Damien were planning to tie the knot last November and the couple had 'deposits paid on the venue, the church, and everything' when Damien was killed. 

Linda told the newspaper: '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.'

She also described Damien as someone who was always willing to help others, telling the newspaper how he touched the lives of so many people - including an architect who was flying 20 hours to be at his funeral despite never having met in person. 

'That's the kind of man he was.'  

Following Damien's death last February, his brother John paid a loving tribvute to 'our family's best friend' in a statement to The Sligo Champion. 

He also recalled some of his happy memories with Damien and their two siblings, Philip and Leanna, when they lived together in Summerhill Village.

John told the newspaper Damien was 'great at winding people in a good-natured way', 'rang our mum Ether every day', and 'very much into old sports cars'. 

He added the whole family was 'proud' of how he made his dream of moving to Australia - where he set up his own carpentry business - true, while grappling with the 'terrible shock' of hisdeath.