Father who killed son in suicide bid.

Byline: By SARA THOMAS 

BRITISH father John Hogan, who is accused of killing his son Liam in a fall from a hotel balcony in Crete, made an unsuccessful attempt to kill himself in prison, his lawyer said yesterday.

Mr Xyritakis said he was angered that Hogan had been given the opportunity to make an attempt on his own life when he was supposed to be on suicide watch.

"I warned the prison that he would try this, but they didn't accept my warning and it lead him to do such a thing.

"The guards must protect any prisoner from such a thing.

"I'm very disappointed. I will be asking the minister of justice to punish everybody who has let him down."

The lawyer said he was informed of the incident by a clerk at the prison and had not had the chance to speak to his client.

Liam died after suffering head injuries in the fall, but daughter Mia survived after breaking her arm.

Hogan was formally remanded in custody after appearing in court for the first time on Wednesday.

His trial is not expected to take place until next year.

Mr Xyritakis said Hogan would be examined by a psychiatrist in a bid to prove his mental condition meant he was not responsible for his actions.

Hogan, sustained a broken arm, leg and chest injuries after jumping from the fourth floor balcony of the Petra Mare Hotel in the popular resort of Lerapetra.

The family had been on a two-week holiday when the tragedy happened.

Hogan's brothers, Stephen and Paul, had both killed themselves in recent years.

Hogan was being held at Korydallos because it was the only prison in Greece suitable for "men with mental problems", his lawyer said.

Hogan claims he has no memory of taking his children and leaping from the balcony.

In a statement to Crete's Neapoli District Court, Hogan said he was "mentally disorientated" because of stress caused by his deteriorating marriage.

Hogan said: "The desire to self-destruct which exploded within me all of a sudden overwhelmed my instinct of self-preservation and my sense of respect for other human lives.

"As I result I lost my ability to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong."

Liam's funeral took place earlier this week at the Holy Trinity Church, Bradley Stoke.

An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned.

CAPTION(S):

John Hogan pictured leaving court last Wednesday