Candlelight vigil for Rowan Harrison and mum Sophie Roome after tragic Lismore murder-suicide
The Lismore community has united in grief at an emotional candlelight vigil over the tragic death of Rowan Harrison, 2, who was cruelly killed by his father in a horror murder-suicide last weekend.
Regional News
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The Lismore community has united in grief at an emotional candlelight vigil over the tragic death of Rowan Harrison, 2, who was cruelly killed by his father in a horror murder-suicide last weekend.
The toddler had been on a custody visit with his dad, James Harrison, last Sunday when the father rigged up a deadly poisoning system to gas both himself and the boy to death inside his College St unit.
Harrison, 38, a business analyst, was subject to an apprehended violence order (AVO), and had split with Rowan’s mother Sophie Roome, a Lismore Base Hospital doctor, last year after the family relocated to the Northern Rivers to both take up respective roles with NSW Health.
The vigil on Sunday night, one week on from the shocking event, was organised by Lismore local John Taylor and was held at the Molesworth St bus station.
Dr Roome attended and was supported by as many as 100 locals as they stood in silence for little Rowan.
Earlier this month, a “heartfelt” vigil was held nearby at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium to honour women who had lost their lives to domestic violence.
Organiser John Taylor thanked the Lismore community for attending to “share this silent vigil tonight for wee Rowan”.
“To Sophie and the family, I am, we are so sorry. I cannot begin to fathom the grief and utter loss you are going through. I can only hope that you know that you don’t walk through this alone. We are here. Lismore is here.”
Lismore dental assistant and acquaintance of Dr Roome, Sanno Patoleta, said “as a mother with a two-year-old my heart is shattered for Sophie”.
Ms Patoleta said the vigil was “about Rowan” – “a beautiful boy who was part of our community and was callously, unfairly and violently ripped away from his loving mother and lif️e”.
Community group Humans of Lismore wrote of the vigil on Facebook there were not enough “words to portray the sadness”.
“Dear Sophie. I don’t know you personally but I saw you there this evening and my heart aches for you,” a member wrote.
Julia Reynolds added: “I don't know Sophie and Rowan but the heartbreak must be astounding. I saw a pic of his little face and just cried. So so sorry, this is uncalled for pure evil.”
Julia Adlington wrote: “May Sophie find some comfort and love from the presence of you all tonight. So sad.”
Alice C. Heart said the crime was “unimaginable” and “I am so sorry for Sophie and everyone who loves him (Rowan).
Resident Lola Crawley said the vigil was “an incredibly moving tribute to little Rowan”.
Catherine Somerville wrote: “Such a tragedy. That beautiful little boy didn’t deserve this. May he rest in God’s arms forever.”
The vigil comes as Dr Roome opened up to The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday on the pain of losing Rowan to “someone he should have been able to trust the most”.
She told this masthead: “There are no possible excuses for this hurt, and no end to the pain it has caused. We are devastated. We will love and miss Rowan forever”.
A GoFundMe fundraiser for Dr Roome has seen $91,000 in donations over a five-day period.
Sam.stolz@news.com.au
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