This Week They Said

We are concerned that the grief of the community could be hijacked by a man whose credibility is certainly in doubt given that…

We are concerned that the grief of the community could be hijacked by a man whose credibility is certainly in doubt given that he misled his country and even his own family.

- DUP Assembly member, Oliver Gibson, talking about President Clinton's planned visit to Omagh

I was disappointed with the way Sonia O'Sullivan ran the race and her refusal to do any work at the front.

- Gabriela Szabo, who lost out in the European Champion- ships 5,000 metres

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Tell me, how do you run a fair race? She put herself in front and I didn't stop her, so when she had a problem she could have turned around and run behind us.

- Sonia O'Sullivan, who won the race

At the BBC you don't speak or do anything until Des [Lynam] says to you: "How do you rate Chelsea's chances this year?"

- Jimmy Hill on moving to Sky Sports News after 25 years with the BBC

It all came as a bit of a surprise. It was a bit upsetting, but we had a word with X fm. It's all water under the bridge now.

- Spokesman for Ian Dury after the singer was mistakenly reported dead by Bob Geldof on his radio show

My heart completely and utterly stopped when they announced the winner. My knees nearly buckled under me.

- Luzveminda O'Sullivan, winner of the Rose of Tralee

The only thing I will not tolerate is a woman vicar.

- A Marylebone Cricket Club member who was in favour of letting women into the club

You actually had to walk along Dublin's quays past those magnificent Tall Ships this week to understand their magic.

- The Minister for Defence, Michael Smith

We know that we are dealing now with groups prepared to carry out outrages such as this who have no political support, no bases, no votes, representation in any part of the community.

- British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, unveiling anti- terrorism measures

We feel this type of hurried, reactive legislation has no place in a democratic society. We feel these proposals will create bad law and will leave the system open to potential abuse by the authorities and to likely miscarriages of justice.

- Northern Ireland's Solicitors' Criminal Bar Association, reacting to those measures

The people who brought about that incident [her phrase for the circumstances of her downfall] are responsible for the biggest defeat the Conservative Party has ever had. They have let the Labour Party in, and big! You won't turn that round in one election.

- Former British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher

Now we have this delay, again involving French nationals. It certainly doesn't do our image in France any good. They really must be questioning the priority we attach to investigating the deaths of foreign nationals here.

- Cork South Central Fianna Fail TD, Batt O'Keeffe, calling for a review of the operations of the State Pathologist's office

I've devoted seven years, at tremendous personal sacrifice. I've poured my heart and soul into disarming Iraq and this means I was wasting my time.

- Scott Ritter, a leader of the UN special disarmament panel after resigning his post due to alleged US and UN failure to stand up to Baghdad

I heard late last night, but I thought someone was winding me up. I don't know him but I'll not be getting a Ruud Gullit doll and sticking pins in it.

- Kenny Dalglish after Ruud Gullit was appointed manager of Newcastle United in his place