Electrical items caused fatal fire, inquest hears

A house fire on Boxing Day last year which killed a woman and her two children is believed to have been caused by electrical appliances, an inquest has heard.

Fionnghuala Mary Shearman, 38, known as Nu, her seven-year-old daughter Eve and her son Ohner, four, died at their home in Brimscombe, Gloucestershire, in the early hours of 26 December last year.

Partner and serving police officer Tom Shearman, escaped and tried to re-enter the house multiple times to save his wife and children, but was unable to due to the severity of the blaze.

Leroy Hughes, from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said items such as soft furnishings and the Christmas tree would likely have fueled the flames.

An inquest held at Gloucestershire Coroner's Court on Monday heard the fire likely started in the living room, caused by electrical items connected to the mains power supply.

Emergency services were called at 03:12 GMT and crews found the property "well alight", according to Hughes.

Shearman told the court he had noticed an "unusual warmth and a smoky atmosphere" in the house when he got up to use the bathroom shortly after 03:00 GMT.

He attempted to wake his family when he realised the house was on fire, but was unable to reach them despite "striking and kicking" a window from outside.

When his efforts were to no avail, Shearman broke into a neighbouring property to help the occupant leave to "prevent the further loss of life".

The inquest heard the neighbour, called June, had spent Christmas morning having coffee and cake with the family before the tragedy unfolded.

The inquest was told emergency services arrived at the scene to find Mr Shearman outside the property in a "very distressed state" and having sustained "quite significant injuries".

The fire destroyed the roof, the ceilings and stairs, as well as causing other significant internal damage to the house.

Senior coroner Katy Skerrett paid tribute to Mr Shearman's "valiant" attempts to save his family.

The coroner said she accepted the fire had likely started in the living room of the property and added that it was probable the fire had started "from an electric ignition source".

The cause of death for all three family members was given as "exposure to the combustion products of fire" and the coroner concluded they were accidental deaths, describing it as an "absolute tragedy with the most horrific consequences possible for this loving young family".

Shearman said previously family and friends had "rallied around" to provide him with housing, clothes and food as well as "company and compassion".

In a tribute paid to his family on a GoFundMe appeal, he said previously: "My life, the lives of my loved ones, my friends and the whole community changed on Boxing Day.

"My family had its very core, its very essence, ripped from it in the most violent way.

"I cannot begin to describe the anguish and trauma of the events of Boxing Day 2025.

"I will heal."

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