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Couple at centre of Loughinisland allegations filmed working in west Belfast

 Ronald Hawthorne was filmed by a private detective as part of the documentary No Stone Unturned
 Ronald Hawthorne was filmed by a private detective as part of the documentary No Stone Unturned

The couple at the centre of allegations contained in the documentary No Stone Unturned were secretly filmed working earlier this year on a new build housing project in nationalist west Belfast.

Ronnie Hawthorne is claimed to be the chief suspect in the murder of six men in the Heights Bar in 1994 and named as Person A in a damning Police Ombudsman's report released last year into the massacre.

His wife Hilary is also named as the person who made two anonymous calls shortly after the attack, naming the suspected killer gang, including her own husband. She is also believed to be the author of a letter sent to former SDLP councillor Patsy Toman, also naming the suspects.

Mrs Hawthorne was identified as the caller to a police confidential phoneline after detectives recognised her voice as she was a civilian RUC employee in Newcastle police station.

She was arrested in November 1995 and admitted making the calls and also admitted to writing the anonymous letter, in which she is alleged to have implicated herself in the planning of the sectarian attack.

The couple remain married and live in a substantial detached property on the outskirts of Clough in Co Down.

They also work together running a commercial cleaning and pest control company which has been operating for the last ten years.

Building Cleaning Services and Active Pest Control claims to provide "all types of cleaning to clients throughout the local and surrounding area" adding that "distance is no object".

In an online listing, which was recently removed, the company describe itself as "a close knit team of reliable and trustworthy staff".

The company is further claimed to be regulated by the British Pest Control Association, who told the Irish News they have no record of them.

They are also not listed on Companies House as a registered company.

During the making of the documentary a private detective followed the couple for several days as they left their south Down home and travelled to work cleaning new build properties in the nationalist Twinbrook estate on the outskirts of west Belfast.

The documentary crew contacted the Hawthornes with full details of the accusations. It is understood Hilary Hawthorn signed for the recorded delivery correspondence on behalf of both her and her husband but neither responded to the offer of a right to reply.