An investigation is underway by Stormont's Department for Infrastructure (DfI) after a traffic updates Twitter account retweeted an image of an IRA hunger striker memorial.
The Twitter account of the Trafficwatch NI service, which posts information provided by the department, has disowned the retweet.
The DfI has said it has also launched a probe into whether the account was "hacked" and has tightened security around the account.
The image was posted to Twitter on Thursday morning by Sinn Féin Mid Ulster MP Francie Molloy, and shows a memorial to hunger striker Martin Hurson, who died in the Maze Prison in 1981 at the age of 24.
Mr Molloy's tweet featured an image of the memorial in the Sperrin mountains, along with a tricolour, and stated: "Our National Flag flying proudly in memory of Martin Hurson on top of Sawel, highest mountain in Sperrins. Died on Hunger Strike 42 years ago today. RIP."
The Trafficwatch NI account, which posts updates on road closures, collisions and other road-related matters, retweeted Mr Molloy's post.
Shortly afterwards, the account posted another tweet stating: "There is a political tweet apparently retweeted by @TrafficwatchNI - it wasn't tweeted by this office - not sure how to remove it - this will be investigated."
This post was later deleted from its page..
A department spokesperson told The Irish News: “The department is investigating the matter including the possibility that the Trafficwatch twitter feed was hacked. Security measures on the platform have been increased.”
