First picture of mother killed alongside two children in Boxing Day fire

This is the mother who died in a house fire with her two children on Boxing Day, despite efforts from her policeman husband to save the family.

Fionnghuala Shearman, known to friends as Nu, her daughter Eve, seven, and son, Ohner, four, were trapped in the burning house.

Emergency services were called to the fire on Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud, Gloucestershire, at around 3am on Friday.

The fire caused the roof of the mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage to fall in, while the ceilings and stairs have also collapsed.

The body of one child has been located at the scene, the search is ongoing to find the second.

The fire is understood to have started on the ground floor and at this time is not being treated as suspicious.

The father, Tom, who is a serving officer within the police force, was able to escape the fire and was taken to the hospital. He has been discharged.

Police said they are still working to recover the second child’s body, but the property’s unstable condition means officers have to proceed with caution.

Det Supt Ian Fletcher said: ‘Due to the ferocity of the intense fire, the parents were unable to get to the bedroom.

‘The father, a serving Gloucestershire Police officer, smashed his way out of the house via a bathroom window in order to try and get to the children’s bedroom from the outside, however he was unable to do so.

‘When he returned to the bathroom, the fire had spread and despite all of his determined efforts, he was unable to re-enter the home via any point in which he tried.’

Officers attended the scene along with crews from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and the ambulance service.

Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher said: ‘At this time this devastating fire is understood to have been a tragic accident.

‘Our thoughts are with him, their wider families and everyone who has been impacted by this unimaginable tragedy.

‘We ask that people respect the privacy of those involved at this incredibly difficult time.’

A cordon remains in place at the address and an emergency services presence is expected to continue for several days as the site is structurally unstable.

A friend described what happened as ‘absolutely shocking’ to the Daily Mail.

She said: ‘We are all shellshocked to be honest with you. We don’t know what happened [to cause the fire].’

Another family friend said the tragedy was ‘dreadful.’

The father tried to rescue his wife and two children but was beaten back by the severity of the fire, Gloucestershire Police said.

A fundraiser for Tom set up by a friend has raised nearly £30,000 of its £40,000 target.

His friend Lucy said in a statement: ‘Tom is now facing an unimaginable period of grief alongside the very real and immediate practical reality of having nothing left.

‘This fund has been set up to help support them with the practical needs he’s facing now and in the months ahead – including emergency accommodation, clothing and essentials, time away from work and the many unexpected costs that arise during a period like this.’

Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher told reporters outside the police force’s HQ that the mother and father were awoken by the fire and had tried to reach their children in the rear bedroom.

He said: ‘They have been unable to get to the back bedroom due to the voracity of the fire.

‘The father has smashed his way out of the house through a bathroom window in order to try to access the children’s bedroom via the outside.

‘He has been unable to enter the property via that bedroom window.

‘He has then tried to re-enter the property through the bathroom window, by which stage the fire has taken hold in the bathroom and he’s unable to get back into the upstairs bedrooms.

‘He has subsequently gone downstairs and tried to force entry via the front and the back door but has been unable to get back inside to the property.

‘It is at this point our colleagues from emergency services have attended and have started managing and dealing with that fire.’

Nathaniel Hooton, deputy chief fire officer of Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service, said the house was well ablaze when crews arrived.

He said: ‘It was extremely challenging and they were faced with a well-developed serious fire on arrival.

‘Trying to make their way into the building, trying to rescue the occupants within that building, and also dealing with everything else that was going on.

‘They tried their hardest to get in there and do whatever was necessary, and they continue to work extremely hard to support the recovery of the unfortunate loss of life.’

Local MPs and councillors previously described the fire as a ‘tragedy’ for the local community.

DSU Fletcher added: ‘We have multiple witnesses who describe the anguish that he was going through, his inability to get in and save his children and save his wife.

‘He is, as you can imagine, in a very distraught way.

Sadly, lost his family at a time which is supposed to be a happy festive period.’

A spokesperson for the Gloucestershire Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said: ‘This is an unimaginable tragedy to have struck a colleague and their family and our hearts are broken for them.

‘It is impossible for us all to properly comprehend and come to terms with what has happened.

‘The Federation are offering as much support as is possible to our colleague at this deeply saddening time.

‘We are also supporting devastated colleagues and teammates of the officer concerned.

‘We know the whole police family across the UK – indeed the whole of the UK – will be offering their condolences.

‘And we thank those who have already passed on their thoughts and support. It is appreciated.’

Mrs Shearman was born in Cheltenham and ran a successful business making canvas and leather bags.

As founder and designer of her firm, Hide & Hammer Ltd, she announced earlier this month that its workshop would be closed for the foreseeable future.

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