James Harrison: NSW Health executive describes East Lismore father at centre of murder-suicide as 'wonderful colleague and beloved friend'
- NSW Health executive sent email to staff
- Staff slammed email as being 'tone-deaf'
- James Harrison and his son Rowan were found dead at home
- READ MORE: Aussie women who have 'nowhere to hide' from domestic violence
A NSW health executive has described a father who killed himself and his two-year-old son at his home during a planned custody visit a 'wonderful colleague' and 'beloved friend'.
James Harrison, 38, a NSW Health business analyst and his toddler son Rowan were found dead inside a unit on College Street in East Lismore on the NSW far north coast on Sunday night after police were called to perform a welfare check.
Employees at NSW Health Clinical Excellence Commission received an email on Wednesday, three days after Harrison's murder-suicide.
The bodies of James Harrison, 38 (pictured) and his son Rowan were found inside the East Lismore unit
CEC Director of Information Management Andre Jenkins sent an email to all staff on Wednesday morning in which he described Harrison as a 'wonderful colleague' and 'beloved friend' despite NSW police treating his and his son's deaths as a murder-suicide
The email, which was sent by CEC Director of Information Management Andre Jenkins following a morning staff meeting, outlined 'support services' available in the wake of Harrison's death.
'It is with indescribable sadness that I find myself letting you know that James Harrison and his son Rowan died on Sunday,' Mr Jenkins wrote in the email obtained by The Telegraph.
'There are no words to adequately describe the loss of a wonderful colleague and beloved friend.
'Many of you also shared and [had] memories of Rowan popping up in meetings with his proud dad.'
Staff slammed Mr Jenkins' email as 'tone-deaf' as it did not acknowledge that Harrison and his son's death was being treated as a murder-suicide by NSW police.
Health Minister Ryan Park labelled the email as 'completely unacceptable' and claimed it caused staff 'significant distress'.
Mr Park added the email did not reflect the views of NSW Health and was not endorsed or authorised by the department.
Details emerged on Tuesday that Harrison had a history of domestic violence and an apprehended violence order (AVO) was extended by the courts in March to protect the mother of his son Doctor Sophie Roome.
Police discovered the bodies of Harrison and Rowan after Dr Roome raised the alarm when her only child was not dropped back home in the afternoon as planned.
The intensive care specialist, who works as a doctor at the local hospital, went to police with initial fears that Harrison may have fled town with Rowan.
An unanswered police knock at Harrison's front door heightened fears.
Several hours later, police returned and forced their way inside, where they found the tragic scene.
Police have since admitted they walked away when no-one answered the door of the home when they first attended at 5.30pm.
Local police admitted to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday that the officers then returned to their police station to make 'further inquiries'.
It took another four hours after the alert was first raised before they returned to the address under pressure from the boy's distraught mother and her family.
Lismore doctor Dr Sophie Roome with her son Rowan, who was tragically killed in a murder-suicide on Sunday night
Officers finally went back to the address more than four hours later at 9.45pm and found Harrison had set up an elaborate 'poison gas' system to kill him and little Rowan.
It's been revealed that Dr Roome had primary custody of Rowan but that Harrison frequently visited his son.
She and Harrison separated last year not long after moving to the Northern Rivers region.
As investigations continue, anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
For confidential support 24/7, contact:
LIFELINE 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
1800 RESPECT
