‘Unanswered questions’ remain over exotic dancer Stacey Tierney’s death at Dreams Gentlemen’s Club

The detective assigned to investigate the death of an exotic dancer at a Melbourne strip club has been probed over his suspected corrupt dealings with underworld figures.

A young woman’s drug overdose which went unreported for hours as she lay dying inside a CBD strip club was investigated by a police officer with links to the underworld.

Questions remain over the hours leading up to and after the death of Stacey Tierney – a UK fitness instructor who turned to exotic dancing as she travelled Australia only to perish inside Dreams Gentlemen’s Club in 2016.

A UK coroner in 2018 said there remained “unanswered questions’’ about what happened to Ms Tierney, 29, inside the Elizabeth St strip club despite a lengthy Victoria Police investigation.

No charges were laid against two men who were with Ms Tierney.

A coroner says there are ‘unanswered questions’ about what happened to Stacey Tierney.

The detective assigned the investigation into the death of Ms Tierney, Sgt Wayne Dean, has been probed over his suspected corrupt dealings with underworld figures.

Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission investigated Det Sgt Dean’s alleged role in using his position for debt-collection.

The officer was this year publicly examined over the misconduct allegations.

IBAC told the Herald Sun the investigation was ongoing into the veteran cop, who allegedly acted as a standover man for Melbourne debt collector Bill Meletsis between 2018 and February this year.

Ms Tierney was a fitness instructor who turned to exotic dancing.

The 37-year police veteran wept while being questioned about misusing his position as a police officer by accepting payments from a debt collector.

Dreams Gentlemen’s Club has historically been linked to an outlaw bikie club.

There has been no suggestion the police investigation into Ms Tierney’s death was compromised, but Victoria Police said it would not comment as to whether the file would be reviewed by Professional Standards Command.

“As the officer is still subject to an active IBAC investigation, it would be inappropriate for Victoria Police to comment,’’ a spokesman said.

Ms Tierney’s drug overdose went unreported for hours as she lay dying.

An IBAC spokesman said: “Operation Bredbo is an active investigation into allegations that a Victoria Police officer misused their position to improperly influence people involved in commercial disputes and civil litigation,’’ a statement said.

The Herald Sun understands IBAC has not uncovered any evidence in relation to Ms Tierney’s death.

Ms Tierney, who worked as an exotic during her three years in Australia, was one of six people who entered the closed venue on December 18 for an after-party before three left, leaving her with Joseph Berhe and Tomas Mesfun.

Neither man called an ambulance after Ms Tierney passed out and both would give inconsistent accounts of what occurred, a UK coroner was told.

Dreams Gentlemen's Club in Melbourne's CBD where Ms Tierney died. Picture: AAP

They claimed after drinking and taking drugs they were asleep most of the time.

Text messages revealed a different scenario.

At 12.30am on December 19 the bar’s manager was sent a text by one of the men: “This chick’s passed out and i can’t leave her. She’s scaring me.’’

Another text message sent at 5.30am read: “I don’t know what to do any more.’’

A pathology report put Ms Tierney’s time of death at the same time the text was sent.

More than six hours later bar owner Steve Kyriacou arrived at the Elizabeth St venue to find Ms Tierney dead on a couch and an ambulance was called.

It’s understood IBAC has not uncovered any evidence in relation to Ms Tierney’s death.

A day later, on December 20, the strip club was open for business.

Police suspected a clean-up had occurred inside a back of house room, an area which did not have CCTV, where Ms Tierney died.

Detectives in 2017 arrested a 33-year-old Ascot Vale man on suspicion of perjury but no charges were ever laid over the case.

UK Coroner Alison Mutch found Ms Tierney’s death was caused by a combination of drug toxicity found in her system involving alcohol, ecstasy, heroin and cocaine.

Coroner Mutch recorded an open verdict saying there were still “unanswered questions’’ about what happened.

In 2017, Ms Tierney’s mother, Michelle Frost, told Stockport Coroner’s Court: I feel there’s been an injustice, but I don’t think I’ll ever, ever, find out the truth.”

This year the owner of the strip club was fined $28,000 and ordered to clean up the operation in an unrelated probe.

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission took disciplinary action against the business’s management for multiple liquor licence breaches in the lead up to the death of Ms Tierney.

Ms Tierney died less than two weeks before her 30th birthday.