This Week They Said

They met what I can only describe as a horrific death.

They met what I can only describe as a horrific death.

The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, on the deaths of eight refugees in Wexford

You are every parent's and grandparent's nightmare come true.

Mr Justice Richard Curtis, to Roy Whiting, found guilty of killing Sarah Payne

READ MORE

The Americans are on your side, and they give you everything. Who gave you the airplanes? The Americans. Who gave you the tanks? The Americans.

Yasser Arafat, talking on Israeli TV, on US favouritism towards Israel

We calculated in advance the casualties from the enemy who would be killed based on the position of the tower.

Osama bin Laden, in comments on newly released a videotape

I should be given credit for peace in Bosnia, not war.

Slobodan Milosevic, to the UN war crimes tribunal

They had every reason to be angry. I've been an outspoken critic of the US actions myself. If I had been them, I would have attacked me.

Mr Robert Fisk, the veteran foreign correspondent, after he was attacked by a mob of 100 in Pakistan

Brighton, from our perspective, was a justified act. Your father was part of the political elite, the Tory government. In that sense, you know, it's that . . . cruel expression, he was a legitimate target.

Brighton bomber Mr Patrick Magee, addressing Ms Jo Tuffnell, whose father, the late MP Sir Anthony Berry, died in the Grand Hotel IRA attack

I was worried she was gone, completely gone.

Ms Anne Marie McNally, after the safe return of her child, 20-month-old Savannah, who went missing from her home with a babysitter

If that was a conclusion reached as a result of a rigorous, fair investigation I would not only resign, I would publicly commit suicide.

PSNI Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan, on the North's Police Ombudsman's report claiming the RUC had bungled its investigation into the Omagh bombing

Oh, come on . . . I'm pushing 70 years old.

US Secretary of Defence Mr Donald Rumsfeld, asked by Larry King if he likes being considered a "sex symbol"

Churchill, like so many men of his type, clung to power and, although hinting at departing, always wanted one last opportunity to assert his importance on the world stage.

Sir Tony O'Reilly, chairman of Independent News and Media, in a review of Roy Jenkins's biography of Winston Churchill Labour's let people down.

Paul Marsden, Liberal Democrat MP, on quitting Labour

It may also have been an attempt to stifle the search for the truth into the circumstances surrounding the murder of Pat Finucane. It must not - and will not - be allowed to halt or hinder that search.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, on the killing of William Stobie, the loyalist involved in the murder of the solicitor

Get the bastards out.

The Labour leader, Mr Quinn, referring to Fianna Fβil in a pre-election speech

Clearly, if Noel Dempsey is reduced to a state of nervous shock by this reported remark, he must never have been at a football match in Meath.

Labour Party Environment spokesman Mr Eamon Gilmore, after the Minister for the Environment, Mr Noel Dempsey, condemned Mr Quinn's comment

There was about 52 of us in one half of the class and in the other half was Derek Davis.

Dustin the Turkey, of his schooldays