Jeremy Corbyn provoked fury today after paying a glowing tribute to former IRA commander Martin McGuinness as a 'great family man'.

The Labour leader, who was friends with the former Northern Ireland deputy first minister, said he was thinking about McGuinness's relatives this morning.

He tweeted: 'Martin McGuinness played a huge role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland. He was a great family man and my thoughts are with them.'

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, pictured having a coffee with Martin McGuinness at Portcullis House in Westminster in July 2015, was friends with the former IRA commander

Mr Corbyn said he was thinking about McGuinness's relatives this morning and praised him as a 'great family' man - but his comments upset many people on social people

But his comments upset many people, with one tweeting: 'Tell that to the people of Enniskillen and Warrington and countless others who lost their families. Murderer.'

Another added: 'This is the very reason you'll never be prime minister. The man was a monster who died with blood on his hands.'

And a third said on Twitter: 'This guy is the leader of the opposition? Unbelievable! Martin McGuinness, who ordered bombing of innocent people.'

Mr Corbyn later issued a longer statement, saying he was 'very sad' at the death of Mr McGuinness who had 'played an immeasurable role' in the peace process.

The hard-Left Labour leader controversially shared a platform with Mr McGuinness at a news conference in the House of Commons in 1995.

And in July 2015, Mr Corbyn posed for a picture over coffee with McGuinness and Sinn Fein boss Gerry Adams at Portcullis House in Westminster.

People reacted to Mr Corbyn's comments on Twitter, with one calling them 'unbelievable'

A wider view of the photograph taken of McGuinness and Mr Corbyn (both left) at Portcullis House in Westminster in July 2015, which also features Sinn Fein boss Gerry Adams (right)

When Mr Corbyn secured the Labour leadership in September 2015, McGuinness told how he was a 'long standing friend' and wished him luck in his new role.

Jeremy Corbyn's full statement on Martin McGuinness's death 'I was very sad to hear of the death of Martin McGuinness this morning, and I would like to send my thoughts and condolences to his wife Bernie and his family. 'Martin McGuinness played an immeasurable role in bringing about peace in Ireland, after years as a key protagonist in the tragedy of the conflict. 'Martin played an absolutely crucial role in bringing about the Good Friday Agreement and a peace process which, despite difficulties, remains an example throughout the world of what can be achieved when the will is there. 'As we reflect on his role, the past twenty years have shown us that if there is leadership and the will on all sides, we can achieve change.' Advertisement

Following his tweet this morning, Mr Corbyn later released a fuller statement, saying: 'I was very sad to hear of the death of Martin McGuinness this morning, and I would like to send my thoughts and condolences to his wife Bernie and his family.

'Martin McGuinness played an immeasurable role in bringing about peace in Ireland, after years as a key protagonist in the tragedy of the conflict.

'Martin played an absolutely crucial role in bringing about the Good Friday Agreement and a peace process which, despite difficulties, remains an example throughout the world of what can be achieved when the will is there.

'As we reflect on his role, the past 20 years have shown us that if there is leadership and the will on all sides, we can achieve change.'

Mr Corbyn has been criticised for his controversial choice of political friends, having previously invited politicians from Hamas and Hezbollah into the Commons.

Just weeks after the IRA bombed the Tory conference in Brighton in 1984, Mr Corbyn invited Mr Adams and other members of Sinn Fein to the Commons.

The Islington North MP was accused of 'traitorous' behaviour for helping Mr Adams plug his autobiography inside the Houses of Parliament in 1996.

The IRA bomb in Enniskillen during a Remembrance Sunday ceremony in 1987 was one of the most notorious atrocities in Northern Ireland's troubled history

The IRA Warrington bombings in March 1993 killed two children when bombs planted in litter bins were detonated. The attack also left 56 people injured

McGuinness died aged 66 overnight in Londonderry after a short illness. The Sinn Fein veteran was diagnosed with a rare heart condition late last year.

His remarkable journey from gunman to statesman saw him shake hands with the Queen and forge an unlikely friendship with erstwhile foe Ian Paisley.

But the IRA bomb in Enniskillen during a Remembrance Sunday ceremony in 1987 was one of the most notorious atrocities in Northern Ireland's troubled history.

It exploded near the town's war memorial during a service to commemorate British military war dead. Eleven people were killed and 63 were injured.

The IRA Warrington bombings in March 1993 killed two children when bombs planted in litter bins were detonated. The attack also left 56 people injured.

Tony Blair expressed his sadness and paid tribute to McGuinness and his role in ensuing peace in Northern Ireland.

He said: 'I grew up watching and hearing about the Martin McGuinness who was a leading member of the IRA engaged in armed struggle. I came to know the Martin McGuinness who set aside that armed struggle in favour of making peace.

Former PM Tony Blair expressed his sadness and paid tribute to McGuinness and his role in ensuing peace in Northern Ireland

'There will be some who cannot forget the bitter legacy of the war. And for those who lost loved ones in it that is completely understandable

'But for those of us able finally to bring about the Northern Ireland peace agreement, we know we could never have done it without Martin's leadership, courage and quiet insistence that the past should not define the future.

Mr McGuinness was described as a 'great guy' by former Labour communications chief Alastair Campbell.

Former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Hain said Mr McGuinness was 'absolutely crucial' to the peace process.

'He had the grassroots credibility of a republican leader and former IRA commander, that could enable him, along with Gerry Adams, to take his followers, to take republicans, from the past of terror and horror into a democratic future, which is what he did,' Lord Hain told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

The Labour former cabinet minister revealed that Mr McGuinness also had an unlikely love of the England cricket team.

'I discovered he was a fan of the England cricket team - this was a hardline republican - but I realised watching the Ashes series on the television in the corner of my office in Stormont Castle that he actually was following the England cricket team, he knew all the players,' Lord Hain said.