Doctor took out AVO against ex before he killed their son, 2

The Lismore father who killed himself and his two-year-old son was subject to an apprehended violence order to protect the toddler’s mother, it can be revealed, as more heartbreaking details emerge about how the tragedy unfolded.

Sophie Roome and her child Rowan and (right) killer father James Harrison.

The Lismore father who killed himself and his two-year-old son was subject to an apprehended violence order to protect the toddler’s mother, it can be revealed, as more heartbreaking details emerge about how the tragedy unfolded.

Dr Sophie Roome, an intensive care specialist at Lismore Base Hospital, took her son Rowan for an access visit with his father James Harrison, 38, in East Lismore on Sunday morning.

When her only child wasn’t dropped back that afternoon as planned, Dr Roome went to police fearing Harrison may have fled town with their child.

An unanswered police knock at Harrison’s front door heightened concerns.

But heartbreakingly, a few hours later, the little boy was found dead inside the College St rental home alongside the body of Harrison.

James Harrison had regular access visits with his son. Photo: Facebook

NSW Police believe Harrison, a business analyst with NSW Health, had planned the horrific crime by rigging up a deadly poisoning system in the residence.

Devastated friends of Dr Roome said she and Harrison moved to the Northern Rivers region last year, but separated a few months later.

Dr Roome had primary custody of Rowan, and Harrison frequently visited.

Friends revealed that Harrison’s concerning behaviour towards Dr Roome escalated when they separated, prompting her to go to Lismore Local Court in August 2023 and seek an apprehended violence order.

In March this year, the AVO was extended by the court, banning Harrison from assaulting, stalking or intimidating Dr Roome.

Mother Sophie Roome had primary custody of Rowan, 2.

On Sunday morning, Harrison was having a planned access visit with his son while Dr Roome was working a shift at the hospital.

At 4.30pm when the child hadn’t been dropped back to Dr roome as planned, she started to worry. An hour later, she called police.

“It’s devastating, we are all devastated,” a relative of Dr Roome told The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

Family of Dr Roome were last night rushing from Tasmania, where she grew up, to be with her in Lismore.

Harrison’s social media profiles show pictures of him on hiking expeditions and camping trips, and include rantings about Covid-19, terrorism and equality rights.

Police in College St, East Lismore following the discovery of the bodies. Picture: Cath Piltz

On LinkedIn, he worked for multiple IT companies before taking up a role with NSW Health in 2018. From January this year he lists his employer as Northern NSW Local Health District, which is a part of NSW Health.

In a statement, NSW Police clarified why it took them more than four hours after Dr Roome contacted them with concerns about her missing boy before officers forced entry at 9.45pm and found the bodies.

Police said officers went to the College St address soon after the concern for welfare was made at Lismore police station at 5.30pm.

When officers couldn’t raise Harrison, they canvassed the area before returning to the station to make further inquiries, including contacting his relatives interstate.

“As a result of further information received, police re-attended the East Lismore property at 9.30pm where they forced entry,” the statement said.

A post mortem examination will be carried out this week to confirm the cause of the father and son’s deaths.

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Originally published as Doctor took out AVO against ex before he killed their son, 2