A mother and her two young children who perished in a devastating house fire on Boxing Day died as a result of smoke inhalation, an inquest has confirmed.
Tragic Details of the Boxing Day Blaze
The hearing was told that Fionnghuala Shearman, 38, and her children, seven-year-old Eve and four-year-old Ohner, lost their lives in the fire which tore through their family home in Brimscombe, near Stroud, Gloucestershire. The coroner recorded their medical cause of death as "exposure to the combustion products of fire".
Known affectionately as Nu, Fionnghuala and her children were trapped inside the property as flames took hold. It is understood that Thomas, believed to be her partner, bravely attempted to rescue them from the inferno.
Community in Mourning After Fatal Fire
The news has sent waves of grief through the local community in Gloucestershire, where the family was well-known. The tragedy, occurring on 26 December, has cast a long shadow over the festive period for residents of Brimscombe and the wider Stroud area.
Emergency services rushed to the scene but were unable to save the three family members. The inquest, which opened recently, is a procedural step to formally establish the facts surrounding their deaths. Further hearings are expected to examine the full circumstances of how the fire started and progressed.
Ongoing Investigation and Aftermath
While the cause of death is now confirmed, investigations by Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and police into the origin of the blaze are likely to continue. The focus will be on understanding what sparked the fire and whether any preventative lessons can be learned.
The loss of Fionnghuala, Eve, and Ohner has highlighted the deadly speed and danger of house fires. The community continues to rally around Thomas and other surviving family and friends, offering support in the wake of an almost unimaginable loss.
