Row that led to father’s death plunge

Liam suffered multiple fractures and died but Mia escaped with a broken arm because she landed on her father.

Hogan suffered a broken leg and arm and chest injuries and underwent five hours of surgery at the University General hospital in Heraklion, the island’s capital.

Greek police, who have interviewed his wife, said Hogan was already on prescription antidepressants when he arrived on the island for the £2,000, two-week holiday with his family from their home in Bradley Stoke, near Bristol.

He is believed to have gone on a drinking binge after a row with his wife, who is a deputy sister in the accident and emergency department of the Royal Gwent hospital in Newport, South Wales. Detectives have interviewed other guests who say they heard shouting and “bad language” through the hotel walls.

Hogan’s wife is thought to have left their room to give him “a chance to calm down”. Instead, Hogan is alleged to have seized his sleeping children and leapt from the balcony.

Yesterday he was visited by his mother and his brother.

A fellow patient, also under guard because he is a serving prisoner, said Hogan told his mother “I’m sorry, mum” over and over again. He claimed Hogan had screamed out “God help me” as he cried himself to sleep.

A police source said: “We have notified Mr Hogan that he will be charged but we have not taken his testimony yet.

“He now knows what he has done, but the doctors say he is still in no state to speak to us. He is too heavily drugged with painkillers.”

A hospital spokesman said: “The patient is getting better and he will be transferred to the orthopaedics ward.

“He had a fracture to the femur and the tibia and he has been operated on for these fractures. He is now breathing with a face mask and is awake and fully aware.” Hogan could be ready to leave hospital as early as Tuesday, when he will be formally arrested.

Mia was released from hospital on Friday and she and her mother flew back to Britain. The Foreign Office is believed to have arranged for them to travel on a scheduled flight to escape the attentions of fellow holidaymakers on a charter plane.

Yesterday the family’s £200,000 modern terraced house was deserted. The Hogans married in Somerset in 2002. They moved into the house 18 months ago and John Hogan ran a tiling business from the house.

An Avon and Somerset police source said his wife and daughter were staying elsewhere in the area.

“They need a bit of time by themselves to come to terms with what has happened,” said the source.

Some neighbours have told how the couple had a violent 2am row at their home last month. Natasha Hogan appeared to be locked out of the house while her husband shouted abuse and hurled clothes and shoes out of a window.

But William Evans, their next-door neighbour, said Hogan doted on his wife and children and he had never seen them argue.

“The children were angels, so full of smiles and well behaved,” he said.

“Mia is a chatty little girl. Liam was a bright little boy, loved football and was never in trouble. Before they left, Natasha said to me, ‘The kids are so excited, we can’t wait to get there. We’re really looking forward to the holiday’.”

The family yesterday said they were trying to come to terms with the tragedy.

A statement said: “All the family were looking forward to this holiday. It was to be an opportunity for us to enjoy quality time together in an environment away from the general strains of life.”