The house fire that killed a mother and her two children on Boxing Day likely started in the living room after electrical devices were left plugged in, an inquest heard.

Fionnghuala Shearman, 38, known as Nu, and her children, Eve, seven, and four-year-old Ohner, were killed last year when the blaze destroyed their home in Brimscombe, near Stroud, Gloucestershire. 

The mother's police officer husband Tom Shearman tried to rescue his wife and children but was forced back by the severity of the flames. The family's dog Hutch also died.

Emergency services were called to the mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage at about 3am after the father-of-two had escaped through the window.  

Leroy Hughes, station manager for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court on Monday that an investigation into the fire led him to believe it had started in the living room before spreading throughout the house.

The fire likely originating from 'electrical devices connected to the domestic power supply', the court heard.

He added items in the room such as a Christmas tree and soft furniture likely caused the fire to spread.

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

Senior coroner Katy Skerrett 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'.

She paid tribute to Mr Shearman's 'valiant' attempts to save his family. 

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, an officer with Gloucestershire Police, 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 his neighbour's home, June's, to save her from the fire.

The inquest heard that she had spent Christmas morning with the family, enjoying coffee and cake together.

Mr Shearman then returned to the front of the house and 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'.

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'.

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

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 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.'

Mrs Shearman's best friend, Carmen Schmidt, posted online following the aftermath that there were ‘no words’ for how devastated she felt.

Posting to Instagram, she said she wanted to ‘crawl into a dark hole,’ but felt compelled to speak out about the tragedy because she and Mrs Shearman, who often posted about their trips to woolen fairs and craft shows on social media, built their businesses online ‘out loud for all to see.’

‘She was my best friend and there are no words for the devastation those close to her feel right now,’ Ms Schmidt wrote.

‘It was a catastrophic house fire that took Nu and her two children in the early hours of the morning. A tragic event with no earthy reason.

‘It goes without saying that this is unbelievably difficult to navigate, especially in a public online space. I’d like to crawl into a dark hole for a good while right now but that isn’t how we built our businesses and our lives. We built them out loud for all to see and so here I am.

‘For now, please go hug your loved ones and tell the people in your life how much they mattered to you.

'Nu was extremely good at this, she loved big and hard and I’m so grateful to have been in her orbit and I will miss her for a lifetime.’