A DEVASTATED mother from Newport claimed she had "lost her son for nothing'' today after her ex-husband was cleared of murdering their young son.

A Greek court ruled John Hogan was incapable of deliberately killing Liam after the 33-year-old, from Bristol, said he was a "beautiful'' father and "felt no guilt'' about their 50ft plunge from a Crete hotel balcony.

Hogan, who hurled Liam from the fourth floor room before jumping himself with his two-year-old daughter Mia, will receive psychiatric treatment in Athens while his eventual fate is decided.

His ex-wife Natasha, who was in court, condemned the judging panel's decision and said what Hogan had done was "unforgivable''.

The 35-year-old nurse, who now lives with her new love Richard Visser in Newport, said the trial had been an ordeal. She was rushed out of court in tears after the verdict was interpreted to her.

Mrs Hogan, deputy sister at Newport's Rpyal Gwent Hospital. said: "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.

"I know that we all miss Liam but it is Mia and I that are left to rebuild our lives without a loving, caring son and brother.'' Liam died of head injuries but Hogan and Mia survived with broken limbs following the plunge on August 15 2006.

Clearing him of murder and attempted murder after a two-day hearing, Paraskeri Kiraleou, the senior judge at the trial, said: "His responsibility was diminished. He was incapable of murdering his son and he needs to be in a psychiatric unit for therapy.'' Hogan's lawyer, Dimitris Xiritakis, who read Plato to the judges during his closing speech, told reporters: "John Hogan is very happy with the verdict.'' But later, as he was escorted back to the cells in Chania, Hogan told a film crew: "How can I be pleased, because my son is dead?'' Hogan, whose two brothers committed suicide, had earlier said he believed he had been forgiven by his son and by God for his actions.

Sobbing, and slumped in his chair, he told the court: "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.

"I'm not even allowed to write a letter to her.'' After breaking down in tears, a shaking Hogan added: "My wife has every right to hate me. I took away her children.'' 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 had failed.

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

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.'' Mrs Hogan had previously described the plunge as "selfish love'' because he knew she was leaving him.

After hearing two days of evidence, prosecutor Helen Kiraleou guided the Mikto (mixed) panel of four jurors and three judges to hospitalise, rather than jail, Hogan.

She said: "When his wife said she was taking the children, it was catastrophic for him.'