A fire that killed a Stroud mother, her two young children and the family dog on Boxing Day 2025 was probably caused by an electrical appliance connected to the mains supply, an inquest has heard.
Fionnaghula Shearman, known as Nu, died alongside her daughter Eve, aged seven, her son Ohner, aged four, and the family dog Hutch at their home on Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud. The findings were heard at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court on Monday 9 November 2026.
The blaze destroyed the family’s mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage. An investigation indicated that it most likely began in the living room before spreading through the house. There was no evidence of third-party involvement or suspicious circumstances.
Fire spread through the Brimscombe home
Emergency services were called during the early hours of 26 December 2025. Leroy Hughes, a station manager with Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, told the inquest that the first call was received at 3.12am and that the property was “well alight” when crews arrived.
The fire damaged or destroyed the roof, ceilings and stairs, as well as causing extensive internal damage. Mr Hughes said the likely source was electrical devices connected to the domestic power supply. Nearby soft furnishings and the Christmas tree were also likely to have helped fuel the flames and speed their spread.
Detective Inspector Louise Missen, of Gloucestershire Police, said Tom Shearman became aware of an “unusual warmth and a smoky atmosphere” after getting up to use the bathroom. He realised the house was on fire and shouted to his wife to wake up and get the children.
Mr Shearman tried to reach the children’s bedroom from outside by striking and kicking at a window, but could not get in. He was also unable to re-enter through the bathroom window or force open the doors on the ground floor because of the severity of the fire.
He then broke into a neighbouring property to alert its occupant and help her escape. The inquest heard that the neighbour, June, had spent Christmas morning with the family, sharing coffee and cake with them before the fire.
Mr Shearman returned to the front of the house and was heard shouting in the street that he could not “get his family out”. Emergency crews found him outside the property in a “very distressed state” with “quite significant injuries”. He was taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged.
Coroner records accidental deaths
Senior coroner Katy Skerrett paid tribute to Mr Shearman’s “valiant” efforts to save his family. She accepted that the fire had probably started in the living room and that an electric ignition source was the likely cause.
The cause of death for all three family members was recorded as “exposure to the combustion products of fire”. The coroner concluded that they had died accidentally, describing the incident as “an absolute tragedy with the most horrific consequences possible for this loving young family”.
Mrs Shearman was formally identified through a tattoo. Eve and Ohner were identified using DNA analysis.
Family and community remember Nu, Eve and Ohner
Flowers were left in memory of Nu, Eve and Ohner at Brimscombe Mill after the tragedy.
In a tribute reported previously, Mr Shearman said the events of Boxing Day had changed his life, the lives of his loved ones, his friends and the wider community. He described his wife and children as three of “the greatest humans to ever grace our presence” and said his family had been torn apart.
He also said relatives and friends had rallied around him with housing, clothes, food, company and compassion. He said he would work to preserve Nu’s legacy in craft, design and helping others, as well as Eve’s love of books and writing and Ohner’s compassion and desire to help people.