Investigators pinpoint cause of house fire that killed mother and children on Boxing Day

A mother and her two children died after a fire believed to have been caused by electrical appliances that destroyed their Gloucestershire home on Boxing Day, an inquest has heard.

Tom Shearman attempted to rescue his family but was beaten back by the severity of the blaze that destroyed the house in Brimscombe, near Stroud, last year.

Fashion designer Fionnghuala Shearman, known as Nu, died alongside their children Eve, seven, and four-year-old Ohner, and the family’s dog Hutch.

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

Emergency services were called to the mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage on Brimscombe Hill at about 3am on 26 December last year.

Detective Inspector Louise Missen, of Gloucestershire Police, told the inquest that Mr Shearman was alerted to the fire when he went to use the bathroom in the early hours of the morning and became aware of an “unusual warmth and a smoky atmosphere”.

“He realised the house was on fire and shouted at Mrs Shearman to wake up and get the children,” she said.

The inquest heard that Mr Shearman tried to reach the children in their bedroom by “striking and kicking” a window from outside the house but was unable to gain access.

Because of the severity of the fire, Mr Shearman also could not regain entry to the property through the bathroom window and could not force open the ground-floor doors.

When these efforts were to no avail, Mr Shearman decided “to prevent the further loss of life” and broke into a neighbouring property to alert the occupant to the fire and help her to leave.

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

Mr Shearman then returned to the front of the house was heard by neighbours shouting in the street that he could not “get his family out” of the burning building.

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

Leroy Hughes, station manager for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said the first call to emergency services was received at 3.12am and that the property was “well alight” when crews arrived at the scene.

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

He said an investigation into the fire led him to believe it had started in the living room before spreading throughout the house, likely originating from “electrical devices connected to the domestic power supply”.

He said surrounding items such as soft furnishings and the Christmas tree would likely have fuelled the flames and exacerbated the spread of the fire.

It was stressed that there was no evidence of third party involvement in the incident or any suspicious circumstances.

During the hearing on Monday, senior coroner Katy Skerrett paid tribute to Mr Shearman’s “valiant” attempts to save his family.

The coroner said she accepted that 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”.

The court heard Mrs Shearman was formally identified from a tattoo on her body while her two children were identified by DNA analysis.

Mr Shearman, an officer with Gloucestershire Police, was taken to hospital for treatment but later discharged.

He said previously that 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.

“Most importantly, and tragically, three of the greatest humans to ever grace our presence were taken from not just me, but all of us.

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

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

He continued: “I will heal.

“I have already started the ball rolling on a plan that came to me just as I was falling past the precipice of the abyss.

“I will make sure my unbelievably talented, empathetic, compassionate and beautiful wife’s legacy of craft, design and making lives on.

“As will I ensure that my bright spark Eve’s legacy of enjoyment from books and writing be carried on.

“Along with my incredible son’s sheer compassion and desire to help people.”