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Brian Cowen appears to have intervened in a live planning application while he was Taoiseach, according to documents uncovered today.

The Irish Daily Mirror can reveal letters he sent from the Office of an Taoiseach telling a council boss that a top construction firm had contacted him about a planning application.

He then goes on to ask the Director of Services at Offaly County Council to meet with a representative of the company.

The former head of state wrote: “Mr Mick Denny of Gaelectric Ltd was in contact with me recently and is requesting a meeting with you to discuss their current planning application.

“I would be grateful if you were in a position to facilitate such a meeting and I look forward to hearing from you in due course.”

The letter, obtained under Freedom of Information, was sent on official paper from the Office of An Taoiseach in April 2010.

It was stamped “received” by the County Manager’s office at the local authority the next day.

Furthermore, the Irish Mirror can also reveal that former minister Mary Coughlan wrote to the Planning Office at Cork County Council about a wind farm project.

Ms Coughlan wrote: “I wish to make a representation on behalf of Mr Daniel J (Bob) Murnane, Ballybane Windfarms Ltd, Landane, Bantry, Co Cork in relation to difficulties in commencing his project.

(Image: Gareth Chaney Collins)

“I would be most grateful if you could examine this case and let me know the up to date position.

This letter was sent on official stamped paper from the Office of the Agriculture Minister in 2006 - when she held the position.

Now a senior party member, Kieran Hartley, says “people in glass houses can’t throw stones” and has accused his own party of “the highest hypocrisy”.

“How can they honestly say that? When people in our own party have been doing the very same.”

Mr Hartley, the substitute for MEP Brian Crowley, continued: “It is sickening.

“These politicians are talking out of both sides of their mouths, running with the hare and hunting with the hounds when suits.

“Politics has got to work for the many people, not the elite and wealthy few .

“If you ask me honestly how I feel after this, well I think Fianna Fail has now become a party without proper leadership, lacks identity, stands for nothing and is fast becoming irrelevant in an new and emerging Ireland.

“It was once a party of the people.”

The Irish Mirror has contacted Fianna Fail and the companies referred to in the letters for a comment.