Flat where pensioner lay dead for two years goes on market for £65k

THE west Belfast home where a woman lay dead for two years has been put on the market.

The remains of Marie Conlon (68) were discovered in an extreme state of decomposition in the bedroom of the apartment at Larkspur Rise in October 2017.

Last week Robert Sharkey (24), who prevented her burial for more than two years, was jailed. Now Ms Conlon’s two-bedroom apartment just off Suffolk Road has been listed for sale with an asking price of £64,950.

The sale of the apartment is being handled by the west Belfast estate agents firm Northern Property.

When contacted yesterday, a spokesman for Northern Property confirmed the apartment had been on the market for just over a week but declined to discuss the level of interest.

The property has been described as “a spacious two bedroom apartment in a popular residential area just off the Suffolk Road in west Belfast”.

The outside and inside of Marie Conlon’s house which is now for sale and (right) Robert Sharkey

The estate agent’s listing adds: “This area is popular due to its many local amenities including shops, schools, pubs and eateries and is also serviced by excellent transportation links.

“The apartment itself comprises; entrance hall leading to large open plan living/kitchen space with patio doors leading to Juliette Balcony which over looks the front of the property.

“Two well-proportioned bedrooms and a shower room with

electric shower, tiled throughout. The property benefits from double glazed windows and doors and private parking to the front.”

The property had been in the news following the discovery of Ms Conlon’s body last October.

Knowing his neighbour was dead and stealing both cash and her bank card, Sharkey — who had lived in the flat above Ms Conlon for around five years — used the card fraudulently online for two years.

As well as paying

Ms Conlon’s rates bill in a bid to avoid detection, Sharkey ordered the same nine-inch pepperoni and anchovy pizza and two tins of juice for delivery from Dominos Pizza every day between 4pm and 6pm for two years. It earned him the nickname ‘the fish guy’ from staff and racked up a near £6,000 bill.

Due to the sell-by date on food found in Ms Conlon’s home, and the last time her bank card was used legally, police believe the pensioner passed away in January 2015.

Sharkey’s offending emerged on October 6 last year, when Ms Conlon’s remains were discovered by police following concerns for her safety raised by her family.

At Belfast Crown Court last week, he was jailed for 11 offences, including preventing the lawful burial of a corpse, theft and fraud by false representation.

In total, Sharkey defrauded in excess of £11,700 from Ms Conlon’s estate over a period from October 2015 until October 2017. Handing Sharkey a twoyear sentence — 12 months in custody following by 12 months on licence upon release — Judge Piers Grant told him his behaviour was wicked and an outrage to any decent-thinking person.

He also said Sharkey “denied the deceased and her family the opportunity to have a decent burial”.