The BBC has been accused of ' despicable fawning' over 'terrorist godfather' and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness in their obituary pieces this morning.

On Twitter some furious viewers accused the corporation of having 'blood on their hands' and 'fawning over [him] like he was some sort of misunderstood peacekeeper.'

The family of the former deputy first minister of Northern Ireland announced his death at the age of 66 this morning.

But following hours of coverage by the news channel some viewers were left furious and questioned why the BBC was dedicating so much time to McGuinness's death.

One user wrote: 'BBC showing real bias this morning; no mention that Martin McGuinness was a terrorist just that he was a 'peace maker.''

The BBC has been accused of 'fawning' over 'terrorist godfather' and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness in their obituary pieces this morning

Following hours of coverage by the BBC news channel some viewers were left furious and questioned why the BBC was dedicating so much time to McGuinness's death

Another said: 'Shame on the BBC giving former IRA commander and murderer Martin McGuinness airtime on his death. Blood on the hands of the BBC.'

Other social media users accused the BBC of 'lauding a mass murderer like he was on a par with Nelson Mandela' and pointed out the discrepancy between their coverage of his death and the death of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

On Twitter some furious viewers accused the corporation of having 'blood on their hands' and 'fawning over [him] like he was some sort of misunderstood peacekeeper'

McGuinness was once Britain's number one terrorist and a feared commander accused of ordering some of the IRA's most infamous attacks across Ulster and on mainland UK.

But he turned peacemaker and was pivotal in securing the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and the Queen even agreed to meet him and shake his hand in 2012 even though he was believed to have ordered the murder of her cousin Lord Moutbatten in 1979.

Lord Tebbit, whose wife Margaret was permanently paralysed by the IRA's 1984 bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton said: 'The world is a sweeter and cleaner place, isn't it?

Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness are pictured during the Commemoration of Bloody Sunday march in Derry on January 30, 1983

'He was a coward who knew that the IRA was defeated, that the IRA army council had been penetrated by British intelligence and they were beaten.

'He, coward as always, opted to try and get out of that by posing as a man of peace.

'He was a murderer, a multi-murderer. He became a man of peace ... because he knew that he was shortly to be arrested and charged with specifically murders which he had committed himself. The proper historic role that he should have played would have been to confess his sins, pray for forgiveness and make amends. He didn't.'

Among the tributes to Martin McGuinness were more critical comments from victims who said they have been denied justice.

In the wake of the former IRA leader's death the sister of a woman killed by the paramilitary group tweeted a list of atrocities and other victims.

Ann Travers' sister Mary was gunned down and her judge father, Tom Travers, badly injured when they were ambushed by an IRA gang as they emerged from church in Belfast in April 1984.

Ann Travers has since campaigned for victims' rights.

Other Twitter users accused the BBC of 'lauding a mass murderer like he was on a par with Nelson Mandela' and pointed out the discrepancy between their coverage of his death and the death of former PM Margaret Thatcher

She tweeted a picture of her sister and father, and wrote: 'Enniskillen Families, Claudy families, Hegarty family, Gillespie family, Maher family, I'm so sorry you never got the answers you deserved.'

Mr McGuinness spoke out six years ago after a Sinn Fein member involved in the murder of Mary Travers was appointed to an influential adviser role at Stormont.

He said the killing had been 'absolutely wrong' but added the adviser, Mary McArdle, would not be sacked from the role.

Speaking at the time he said: 'There is controversy now because Ann obviously feels very hurt and I respect the fact that she feels the way she feels but if we were to apply the rule that people who were part of the conflict can't be part of building a better future then Nelson Mandela would never have been president of South Africa.'

A BBC spokesman told MailOnline: 'Martin McGuinness' life and legacy fiercely divides opinion. Our coverage has included a range of voices and reaction, including Troubles victims. We have also placed Martin McGuinness' political career in its accurate historical context.'