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UK inquest: Boxing Day fire that killed mother and children ruled accidental
BBC reports a Gloucestershire coroner concluded a Boxing Day 2025 house fire that killed Fionnghuala Shearman and her two children was accidental, likely started by electrical items.
A Gloucestershire inquest on Monday concluded that a Boxing Day house fire that killed a mother and her two children was accidental and likely began with electrical items in the living room, BBC reported1.
Fionnghuala Mary Shearman, 38, known as Nu, her daughter Eve, 7, and her son Ohner, 4, died at their home in Brimscombe in the early hours of 26 December 2025, the outlet said1. The cause of death for all three was given as exposure to the combustion products of fire1.
Partner Tom Shearman, a serving police officer, escaped and tried more than once to go back in to reach his wife and children, BBC said, but could not because of the blaze1. Senior coroner Katy Skerrett described his attempts as valiant, according to the report1.
Leroy Hughes of Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service told the inquest at Gloucestershire Coroner's Court that the fire likely started in the living room from electrical items connected to the mains, BBC reported1. He said items such as soft furnishings and a Christmas tree would likely have fueled the flames1.
Emergency services were called at 03:12 GMT and found the property well alight, Hughes said, according to BBC1. The fire destroyed the roof, ceilings and stairs and caused other significant internal damage1.
Shearman told the court he noticed unusual warmth and a smoky atmosphere shortly after 03:00 GMT when he got up to use the bathroom, BBC reported1. He tried to wake his family and later struck and kicked a window from outside but could not reach them1. He then broke into a neighboring home to help an occupant leave1.
Crews found Shearman outside in a distressed state with quite significant injuries, the inquest heard, BBC said1. Skerrett accepted the fire had likely started in the living room from an electric ignition source and recorded accidental deaths1.
BBC said Shearman had previously written that family and friends provided housing, clothes, food and support after the fire1. The account is drawn from a single BBC report of the inquest1.