A devastating fire claimed the lives of a mother and her two young children on Boxing Day, an inquest has revealed. Fionnghuala Shearman, aged 38 and known as Nu, along with her children Eve, seven, and Ohner, four, perished after a blaze engulfed their home in Brimscombe, near Stroud.
The family tragedy unfolded in the early hours of December 26, 2025, at around 3am, when emergency responders were alerted to the fire at the mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage on Brimscombe Hill. Despite the heroic efforts of Tom Shearman, a police officer and father of the children, only he managed to escape the inferno.
According to Katy Skerrett, the senior coroner for Gloucestershire, the fire was reported by a neighbor at 3:12am. Upon arrival, fire crews found the house fully ablaze, struggling to contain the intense flames that caused severe damage, including the destruction of the roof, ceilings, and stairs.
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Tom Shearman described how he and Fionnghuala were awoken by smoke. He attempted multiple times to reach their children’s room but was thwarted by the overwhelming smoke and heat. He escaped through a bathroom window but was unable to re-enter the home despite repeated efforts.
Preliminary findings by a forensic pathologist indicated the cause of death for all three—including Nu and her children—was “exposure to the combustion products of fire,” with toxicology and microscopic analyses pending. Identification of Mrs. Shearman was confirmed via a tattoo, while the children were positively identified through DNA testing.
The inquests were opened but adjourned with no further dates set. The family did not attend the hearing, which lasted under ten minutes. Authorities continue to investigate the fire’s origin, believed to have started on the ground floor, but have ruled out any suspicious activity.
In the aftermath, a fundraising campaign for the Shearman family has raised nearly £440,000, highlighting the community’s support in the wake of this heartbreaking tragedy.