Tragic Stacey is laid to rest

Jul 17 2008 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

THE funeral will take place this morning (Thursday) of a young mum killed in a road tragedy.

Stacey Muldoon suffered fatal injuries early last Wednesday when the car in which she was a rear seat passenger struck a lamppost in Larkhall. It happened about 1.35am at Strutherhill, close to the entrance of the former DAKS factory.

Traffic Police are still trying to determine how the S40 Volvo went out of control on a straight piece of road.

The 21-year-old driver and a second passenger, a 20-year-old, were taken to Wishaw General Hospital but were later released.

Chief Inspector Donna Henderson of Motherwell Traffic Department said: “Our investigation is progressing,.

“A report on the circumstances will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

She urged anyone with information about the tragedy to contact police.

Stacey (23), who was the mother of daughters Cerys, aged four, and two-year-old Mayeh, lived with her parents Jane and Jock Muldoon and twin sister Kelly in Union Street, Stonehouse.

Stacey’s brother Craig (29) and sister Leigh Payne (30) were helping her devastated parents to come to terms with their loss.

Stacey’s funeral takes place at 10am today in St Ninian’s Church, Stonehouse, and thereafter at the village’s Glebe Cemetery.

Surrounded by 150 cards of condolence and several bouquets, Leigh said the funeral would be a “celebration” of Stacey’ life. Mourners have been asked to wear “bright coloured” clothing.

She added: “She was the life and soul of any party. She had two children who she loved dearly but she adored being out partying and would have called us morbid if we had arranged a traditional black funeral.”

Leigh said family members last saw Stacey on Tuesday evening, and added: “A friend invited Stacey out for a meal at a Chinese in Larkhall. She made my dad’s dinner and went out looking very pretty.

“She met the people who invited her for the meal but it appears that during the night she got separated from them.

“The next thing we know is that the police are here telling us she has been involved in a road accident.”

Leigh said they were not familiar with the names of the men in the car when it crashed.

She added: “At the moment we don’t know what happened and are not putting the blame on anyone. We want to get through the funeral and get Stacey laid to rest.”

Stacey attended Stonehouse Primary and Strathaven Academy. She worked at Stonehouse’s Spar store and earlier at the village’s Co-op and nursing homes in Stonehouse and Strathaven.

Jane Muldoon said: “She really worked hard for her two girls. She worked full time and took all the extra hours she could get.

“She was keen to move out and get a flat and had even taken on a second job.”

Mrs Muldoon said the family wished to thank everyone who had sent messages of condolence. They were also grateful for the help of police and hospital staff and the support of the minister of St Ninian’s, Rev Paul Grant.

Thanks were also extended to an unnamed woman who lives near the scene of the crash and helped Stacey as she lay dying.