John Hogan "must have been out of his mind'' to jump from the Greek hotel balcony with his children, family members said.

Hogan's mother, Josephine, 65, who moved to Bristol from Ireland 30 years ago, spoke of her son's close relationship with his two children.

She described the traumatic moment she had to tell Hogan of Liam's death during a visit while he received treatment in hospital.

"I told him Liam was dead when I visited him in hospital," she said. "He asked how he was so I told him and he broke down."

Mrs Hogan has been staying in Athens to support her son as he awaited trial for more than a year.

While he sobbed in the dock, she said: "John was a very good father to his children. He loved them.

"If you saw them with his children, you would know - he thought the world of them. He took them swimming, all kinds of activities.

"I did not know of any psychological problems, he did not tell me of them. I never suspected any problems in their marriage - just a month before they went, it had been Natasha's birthday and they came round. We had a good day together.'' She explained how Hogan had suffered following the loss of two brothers - Stephen and Paul - and his father, also named John.

She added: "Stephen, who was just 17, and his Dad, had just died, and he didn't know how to accept it. John and Stephen were very close.

"John also spent a lot of time with Paul trying to help them.'' Hogan's older sister, Gabrielle, said her brother had been the bedrock of the family.

He must have been "out of his mind'' on August 15 2006, she said.