Health chief criticised over email praising Lismore killer

A NSW Health executive sent an all-staff email in which he praised a Lismore father who killed himself and his two-year-old-son as a “wonderful colleague,” “beloved friend,” and a “proud dad”.

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

A NSW Health executive has sent an all-staff email in which he praised a Lismore father who killed himself and his two-year-old-son as a “wonderful colleague and beloved friend,” and even a “proud dad”.

The email was sent by NSW Health Clinical Excellence Commission Director of Information Management André Jenkins on Wednesday morning, three days after the 38-year-old rigged up a deadly poisoning system to kill himself and his two-year-old son Rowan during a planned custody visit.

“It is with indescribable sadness that I find myself letting you know that James Harrison and his son Rowan died on Sunday,” Mr Jenkins said in the email, which was leaked to The Daily Telegraph.

“There are no words to adequately describe the loss of a wonderful colleague and beloved friend,” Mr Jenkins said.

“Many of you also shared and memories of Rowan popping up in meetings with his proud dad,” the email said.

Killer dad James Harrison. Picture: Photo: Facebook

Sophie Roome and her child Rowan. Picture: Supplied,

The email was “recalled” within hours, but only after staff expressed disbelief at the “tone-deaf” message, which failed to acknowledge that NSW Police are treating the deaths of Harrison and his son as a tragic murder-suicide.

Health Minister Ryan Park said the email was “completely unacceptable” and caused “significant distress to staff”.

“I want to make clear that it does not reflect the views of NSW Health, and that it was not in any way endorsed or authorised by Health,” he said.

Fallout from the email reached the highest levels of the NSW Health bureaucracy on Wednesday.

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

Sources said the executive responsible would need to be “counselled” on his actions but said it was too early to discuss what if any action may be taken.

Opposition Health spokesman Matt Kean said the email was “insensitive and disrespectful,” calling for top bureaucrats to take action.

“I’m sure NSW Health managers will take this seriously and counsel the executive who sent the email.”

Mother Sophie Roome had primary custody of Rowan, 2. Picture: Supplied

It was revealed on Tuesday that Harrison was subject to an apprehended violence order to protect his child’s mother.

Officers only discovered the bodies of Harrison and little Rowan after the toddler’s mother Dr Sophie Roome raised the alarm after a planned custody visit.

Dr Roome dropped her son Rowan to his father’s house for planned visit on Sunday morning, but feared the worst when her child was not dropped home as planned.

Former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty said she “shuddered” at the language used in the email.

“Clearly (the NSW Health executive) needs education on just how inappropriate and upsetting this was,” she said.

“It is critically important for people in leadership roles to acknowledge that this was a deliberate act of murder . … with the intent to hurt his ex partner in ways that are unfathomable.

Premier Chris Minns said the government would act on any recommendations made by the coroner following the murder-suicide.

“It’s just an evil act, I’m horrified by it,” he said.

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Originally published as Health chief criticised over email praising Lismore killer