Father and two-year-old son dead in alleged murder-suicide

Police have alleged that the deaths were the result of a domestic violence incident.

NSW police deputy commissioner Peter Thurtell said: "A more tragic event you wouldn't come across.

"There was no weapon involved as far as I'm aware.

"There is no doubt the father has created a system where both he and the child has passed away as a result of the system he set up."

Deputy commissioner Peter Thurtell said the alarm was raised by the mother of the child when the father failed to return the child at 4.30pm after an access visit.

He said the man was known to police for previous domestic violence offences, but they were "not significant issues".

"Our focus is on the poor mother who has lost a child," deputy commissioner Thurtell said.

Police from the Richmond Police District attended a unit in College Street, East Lismore, about 9.45pm on Sunday, May 19 due to concerns for the welfare of the man and his son.

Police forced entry into the unit and found the bodies of a 38-year-old man and a two-year-old boy.

A crime scene has been established overnight and inquiries into the deaths are now underway under Strike Force McGuren.

A report will be prepared for the information of the NSW Coroner following the death of a man and a child on the Far North Coast overnight.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.