A tweet by a UK broadcaster and commentator joking about the Omagh bomb and Jeremy Corbyn's links to the republican movement has been slammed as "indefensible" by the SDLP.

Julia Hartley-Brewer, a broadcaster and columnist who currently presents a programme for Talk Radio, has been criticised for a tweet featuring a picture taken in the aftermath of the attack, with text saying Labour leader Mr Corbyn had included the Real IRA attackers when commemorating commemoration the victims of the attrocity.

SDLP policing and justice spokesperson Dolores Kelly said: "The Omagh bombing was the worst atrocity to take place during our 30 year conflict. For Julia Hartley-Brewer to play politics with this issue is indefensible; then to go on and claim it is some sort of attempt at satire is outrageous."

BREAKING: @jeremycorbyn makes statement on the 20th anniversary of the #Omagh bomb today, paying tribute to the many dead and injured, including the Real IRA bombers who may have snagged a nail while planting the explosives. pic.twitter.com/DDMt7ZGlpq — Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) August 12, 2018

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close People visit the Omagh Memorial garden after attending the ceremony for victims of the car bomb on Market Street on the 15th August 1998. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA People visit the Omagh Memorial garden after attending the ceremony for victims of the car bomb on Market Street on the 15th August 1998. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 15, 2018. The worst single atrocity of the Northern Ireland conflict killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. See PA story ULSTER Omagh. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA White Rose petals are thrown into a pond at the Omagh Memorial garden by people who attended the ceremony for victims of the car bomb on Market Street on the 15th August 1998. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 15, 2018. The worst single atrocity of the Northern Ireland conflict killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. See PA story ULSTER Omagh. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomena died in the blast during the ceremony for victims of the Omagh car bombing on Market Street on the 15th August 1998. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 15, 2018. The worst single atrocity of the Northern Ireland conflict killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. See PA story ULSTER Omagh. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA People gathered on Market Street, Omagh, during the ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 15, 2018. The worst single atrocity of the Northern Ireland conflict killed 29, including a woman pregnant with twins. See PA story ULSTER Omagh. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA People gathered on Market Street, Omagh, during the ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 15, 2018. The worst single atrocity of the Northern Ireland conflict killed 29, including a woman pregnant with twins. See PA story ULSTER Omagh. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA People gathered on Market Street, Omagh, during the ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 15, 2018. The worst single atrocity of the Northern Ireland conflict killed 29, including a woman pregnant with twins. See PA story ULSTER Omagh. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA People observe a minutes silence on Market Street, Omagh, during the ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 15, 2018. The worst single atrocity of the Northern Ireland conflict killed 29, including a woman pregnant with twins. See PA story ULSTER Omagh. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Richard Scott reads a poem entitled "Reality" during the ceremony for victims of the Omagh bombing at the site where a car bomb exploded on Market Street in Omagh on 15 August 1998. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 15, 2018. The worst single atrocity of the Northern Ireland conflict killed 29, including a woman pregnant with twins. See PA story ULSTER Omagh. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Fr Kevin Mullan reading a poem entitled "A call to return" during the ceremony for victims of the Omagh bombing at the site where a car bomb exploded on Market Street in Omagh on 15 August 1998. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 15, 2018. The worst single atrocity of the Northern Ireland conflict killed 29, including a woman pregnant with twins. See PA story ULSTER Omagh. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA The 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb was held in the memorial garden in Omagh. PICTURE MATT BOHILL PACEMAKER 12/8/18 PACEMAKER PRESS The 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb was held in the memorial garden in Omagh. Victims who "suffered and those who are still suffering" have been remembered at a cross-community ceremony ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - died in the 1998 attack in the County Tyrone town. The memorial included prayers in both English and Irish as well as a reading in Spanish, the native tongue of two of the victims. PICTURE MATT BOHILL PACEMAKER 12/8/18 PACEMAKER PRESS The 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb was held in the memorial garden in Omagh. Victims who "suffered and those who are still suffering" have been remembered at a cross-community ceremony ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - died in the 1998 attack in the County Tyrone town. The memorial included prayers in both English and Irish as well as a reading in Spanish, the native tongue of two of the victims. PICTURE MATT BOHILL PACEMAKER 12/8/18 PACEMAKER PRESS The 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb was held in the memorial garden in Omagh. Victims who "suffered and those who are still suffering" have been remembered at a cross-community ceremony ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - died in the 1998 attack in the County Tyrone town. The memorial included prayers in both English and Irish as well as a reading in Spanish, the native tongue of two of the victims. PICTURE MATT BOHILL PACEMAKER 12/8/18 PACEMAKER PRESS The 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb was held in the memorial garden in Omagh. Victims who "suffered and those who are still suffering" have been remembered at a cross-community ceremony ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - died in the 1998 attack in the County Tyrone town. The memorial included prayers in both English and Irish as well as a reading in Spanish, the native tongue of two of the victims. PICTURE MATT BOHILL PACEMAKER Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara MP and Irish Minister Simin Harris join relatives and guests to take part in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E The 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb was held in the memorial garden in Omagh. PICTURE MATT BOHILL PACEMAKER Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara MP and Irish Minister Simin Harris join relatives and guests to take part in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara MP and Irish Minister Simin Harris join relatives and guests to take part in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara MP and Irish Minister Simin Harris with Michael Gallagher in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara MP and Irish Minister Simin Harris join relatives and guests to take part in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara MP and Irish Minister Simin Harris join relatives and guests to take part in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara MP and Irish Minister Simin Harris with Michael Gallagher in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara MP and Irish Minister Simin Harris with Michael Gallagher in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Relatives and guests take part in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara MP and Irish Minister Simin Harris join relatives and guests to take part in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Members of Omagh Community Youth Choir take part in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E 12/8/18 PACEMAKER PRESS The 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb was held in the memorial garden in Omagh. Pictured campaigner Michael Gallagher. PICTURE MATT BOHILL PACEMAKER Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Michael Gallagher join relatives and guests to take part in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E 12/8/18 PACEMAKER PRESS The 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb was held in the memorial garden in Omagh. Pictured survivor Donna Marie McGillion. PICTURE MATT BOHILL PACEMAKER The 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb was held in the memorial garden in Omagh. Pictured George Hamilton..PICTURE MATT BOHILL PACEMAKER 12/8/18 PACEMAKER PRESS The 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb was held in the memorial garden in Omagh. PICTURE MATT BOHILL PACEMAKER Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara MP and Irish Minister Simin Harris join relatives and guests to take part in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E 12/8/18 PACEMAKER PRESS The 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb was held in the memorial garden in Omagh. Pixtured Miinster Shailesh Vara MP and Minister Simon Harris. PICTURE MATT BOHILL PACEMAKER 12/8/18 PACEMAKER PRESS The 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb was held in the memorial garden in Omagh. Michael Gallagher Omagh bomb campaigner. PICTURE MATT BOHILL PACEMAKER Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara MP and Irish Minister Simin Harris join relatives and guests to take part in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th August 2018 - Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara MP and Irish Minister Simin Harris join relatives and guests to take part in the Omagh Bomb Memorial Service in the Memorial Garden of Light ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in a car bomb attack in the County Tyrone town in 1998. It was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E / Facebook

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Whatsapp People visit the Omagh Memorial garden after attending the ceremony for victims of the car bomb on Market Street on the 15th August 1998. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

In a statement to the Belfast Telegraph, Alliance Party MLA Stephen Farry said: "I am a critic of Jeremy Corbyn in many respects. But to tweet something like this in some of stupid little game shows how low Ms Hartley-Brewer is prepared to stoop.

"The Omagh bomb was the single biggest atrocity in the history of the Troubles. I would ask her to apologise for attempting to use it in such a way."

The tweet was posted on Sunday, which marked the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bomb.

Memorials took place in the Tyrone town and across the province for the 29 people - including a woman pregnant with twins - who died in the 1998 Real IRA attack.

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Responding to the tweet many social media users took issue with the use of a picture of the Omagh bomb, and using the event to criticise the Labour leader.

Responding to the tweet, writer of the hit Channel 4 programme Derry Girls Lisa McGee said: "I cannot believe you thought it was acceptable to use this photograph in this way."

Sky News Ireland correspondent David Blevins also reacted to the tweet, writing: "Julia, how long did you spend thinking about the dead and their incredibly dignified families before deciding that the 20th anniversary of Northern Ireland's worst single atrocity was the stuff of satire?"

Julia, how long did you spend thinking about the dead and their incredibly dignified families before deciding that the 20th anniversary of Northern Ireland's worst single atrocity was the stuff of satire? https://t.co/G5wfSAzhwM — David Blevins (@skydavidblevins) August 12, 2018

Another user, who said they were a member of the Labour party, wrote: "I am from Omagh. I am sick, hurt, and appalled that anyone could make political points out of the destruction of my lovely home town and 29 innocent people who died that day."

In a follow-up tweet, Mrs Hartley-Brewer wrote: "The fact that some people - even journos - can believe this tweet is true, and not satire, shows just how low our expectations of @jeremycorbyn are. He has repeatedly paid tribute to dead terrorists so why should today be any different?"

In the wake of the tweet a fake news story emerged online claiming Mrs Hartley-Brewer had been sacked from her position, Mrs Hartley-Brewer responded to by saying: "I’m gutted, to be honest. I was looking forward to a lie in tomorrow. But it turns out this is just more Corbynista #fakenews so I guess it’s bedtime for me. Night all!"

Jeremy Corbyn's links to the republican movement and activity during the Troubles have come under scrutiny since he became Labour party leader in 2015.

The Labour party and Talk Radio have been contacted for comment.

Belfast Telegraph