“This result, albeit somewhat unexpected, has left me feeling that Liam lost his young life for nothing.”

“I accept that an act in a moment of complete madness was uncharacteristic of John but to have done this to our children was unforgivable.

“John is no longer my husband and plans are afoot to rebuild our lives away from the media spotlight.

Mrs Hogan fought back tears as the statement was read out on her behalf on the court steps by Avon and Somerset police constable Russ Jones."

The court had heard that Hogan’s relationship with his wife had been breaking down and their attempt to salvage their marriage during the holiday in August 2006 had failed.

On the night he plunged from the hotel balcony with their children, she had just started packing her bags.

Before the verdict, Hogan, whose two brothers committed suicide, told the court he felt no guilt over Liam’s death as his son and God had already forgiven him.

He said: “I loved my mother, I loved my two sisters but I loved my wife and children more than anything. They meant the world to me.”

He said: “Whatever you do to me in this court, no one can do to me what I have already done to myself.

“I have lost a daughter and I have lost a son until someone decides to take my life."

After breaking down in tears, a shaking Hogan added: “My wife has every right to hate me. I took away her children.”
Hogan’s psychiatrist said his actions were caused by an “earthquake” of psychosis.

Joannis Nestoros, a psychiatrist from the University of Crete, said: “He was away from reality. He did not know what he was doing. It was not his intention to harm the children. He thought he would be able to take his children to heaven. This was not logical.”