Hero' fireman killed himself after being accused of abusing children

Highly respected' former firefighter Matthew Norman was contacted by social services, but spiralled into depression after not being told what the allegation was about

A popular and "highly respected" firefighter hanged himself after an allegation of abuse was made against him.
Matthew Norman feared he would lose everything when he was contacted by social services who told him two young children had accused him of “something” - but he was never told what the allegation was about.
An inquest heard the 45-year-old completely fell apart at the thought of going to prison and losing his job and three children.
He spiralled into a deep depression, hiding himself away in a cabin he had built in his parents’ back garden.

He committed suicide and was found hanged by a concerned friend who had tried to get hold of him.
Dorset Coroner Sheriff Payne heard that Mr Norman, a retired firefighter, had gone through an acrimonious divorce in 2013 with his former wife Sue, which had left him feeling down.
The pair were patching things up shortly before his death and a week before he died Matthew was planning on taking a trip away with his children.
Matthew's sister Deborah Moore, giving evidence at the inquest in Bournemouth, said: “He felt his relationship with Sue was improving and the children noticed this. They began talking amicably.
"A week before his death he was planning and had booked a trip to Center Parcs with his kids, which made him really excited. He was really happy at this point and had created his own menus and bought all the food ready for the trip.
"Then shortly before they were due to go away Matthew told his parents that he had a problem because he had been implicated in something.
"He texted his parents, myself and our brother to tell us he loved us before he took his life."
On September 30 - just four days before his death - Matthew was told by social services that a child had made an allegation against him and as a result the child and its siblings had to be taken away from their mother.