Friend of British dancer who lay dead in a strip club for 12 hours ‘after partying with mystery men’ insists she would ‘never have stayed back to work after hours’
Pals now fear she may have been murdered because she was "happy and healthy" before her death
DEVASTATED pals fear a British woman who lay dead in the strip club where she worked for 12 hours was killed as she didn't do drugs and was happy and healthy.
The body of Stacey Tierney, 29, was discovered at Dreams Gentlemen’s Club in Melbourne, Australia, on December 19 after a group of men she was spotted partying with fled.
Friends now fear she may have been murdered because it was "out of character" for her to spend time with men she didn't know at the club after hours.
Briar Rose told : "As soon as I heard she had died I asked if she had been killed... [I] knew in my heart that something was not right
"She was healthy, didn't touch drugs and was so upbeat about life she wouldn't take her own life."
Stacey, originally a fitness instructor from Manchester, had lived in Australia for the past three years.
She is believed to have been an exotic dancer at the venue, which was closed at the time of her death on Saturday, December 17.
The mystery group of men and other customers at the club are now being sought by the city’s police.
Briar, who worked with Stacey at a strip club on the Gold Coast before she moved to Melbourne, said the dancer had just moved into a new home and was always "the first to say no" if offered drugs.
She added: "I was so happy for her because I can honestly say she was the kindest soul I had ever met."
Pals also described Stacey, whose social media profiles were filled with pictures of herself in bikinis on board yachts, as “streetwise”.
Stacey's devastated family were told she had died just before Christmas but they are now waiting to find out the cause of death.
Stacey's ex-boyfriend Matthew Girvan has expressed his grief at her death, saying: "My ex-girlfriend I was with for 6 years passed away. Words can't describe how devastated I am."
Police have not released any details of the 29-year-old's death but she was reportedly seen partying with a group of men who fled the scene without reporting her death.
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Relatives and friends have raised more than £11,000 through a GoFundMe page to bring Stacey's body back to Britain.
The page reads: “As some of you may know we have sadly lost our beautiful Stacey.
“Stacey was living her life to the full in Australia and she has made a huge impact on everyone who knew her.”
Stacey’s cousin Colleen said: “The whole family is devastated. It’s so hard to take in. Her sisters and mum are heartbroken.
“The family hasn’t been told much, which is frustrating. Our priority is getting her home. After that, we want to know what happened to her.”
Friends have paid tribute on the fundraising page.
Julie Bowler posted: “Rest in peace Stacey, you will be deeply missed.”
The club’s website boasts: “Melbourne’s finest table top dancing venue houses a selection of the most exquisite ladies, plush decor, refreshments and full table service.”
They have refused to comment on Stacey's death.
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