Flaherty urged to 'learn' from row over his letter for CAB targets

However, ahead of a parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday evening, Mr Martin approached the Longford-Westmeath TD to discuss the issue. A source at the meeting said Mr Martin told Mr Flaherty he had had a "tough week" after it emerged the three brothers he described as "extremely capable" and "very sharp" were the subject of a major CAB investigation.

Onlookers said Mr Martin appeared to be "sympathising" with the new TD over the coverage surrounding the letter he wrote on behalf of Thomas (40), Denis (39) and Willie Hannafin (35).

However, the Taoiseach's spokesperson said Mr Martin told Mr Flaherty to "learn" form the incident.

"Joe apologised to the Taoiseach and the Taoiseach said you should 'learn from it, Joe,'" the spokesperson said.

"The Taoiseach said to Joe that as a TD you will have people coming to you with various issues that they want you to address and sometimes you have to say no," she added.

Mr Martin told Mr Flaherty that, as a "general rule", he should not write to the courts on behalf of people.

The spokesperson said Mr Martin was not sympathising with his colleague over the incident.

On Monday, the homes of all three men were among 12 residential properties, three commercial premises and one business raided by gardaí.

CAB seized €110,000 and stg£14,000 (€15,570) in cash along with three caravans and 11 vehicles including a Mercedes, Skoda Kodiaq, Isuzu D-Max, Ford Ranger and a Toyota Land Cruiser.

In June, it emerged Mr Flaherty submitted a letter to Longford Circuit Court during a trial involving the three Hannafins.

The three brothers received a suspended sentences for an attack on an 18-year-old that resulted in the young man needing treatment for knife wounds. The TD insisted the letter was not a character reference on behalf of the accused men.

Former justice minister Charlie Flanagan said it was "dangerous" for TDs to try to "influence judicial decisions" as it "blurs the clear constitutional lines" which separate the legislature and the judiciary.

Subsequently, Mr Flaherty said he deeply regretted sending the letter and described it as an "error of judgment". He had been seeking to highlight the "blight" of an ongoing feud in his constituency.