This Week They Said

I thought that I had long ago reconciled myself to her going. She seemed to have gone long ago

I thought that I had long ago reconciled myself to her going. She seemed to have gone long ago. And yet as I write these words and realise that this wise, good genius has left my life, all our lives, forever, I am blind with weeping.

- Writer A. N. Wilson, on the late novelist and philosopher Iris Murdoch, who had Alzheimer's disease

There was no one more gracious, considerate and kind; no one more hospitable and generous; no one more capable of understanding and empathy . . . The peace between our peoples will be a testament to your abiding belief in lasting peace among the sons of Abraham.

- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a tribute to Jordan's King Hussein

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Yeltsin did not make it to the grave but was very close to it.

- Russian paper Moskovski Komsomolets on an ill and disoriented President Yeltsin in Jordan for King Hussein's funeral

A good, kind person who doesn't deserve even a minute of incarceration.

- Monica Tyson defending husband Mike Tyson, before he was sentenced to a year in prison for assault

There will have to be a gesture on decommissioning definitely - a substantial gesture.

- The Tanaiste, Mary Harney

I know he's got a young family and he gave two years of his life here. So I'm reticent to ask, because he's such a good man he would come.

- Northern Secretary Mo Mowlam on her reluctance to bring Senator George Mitchell back to Ireland to help break the decommissioning deadlock

It underlined to me how seven days is a long time in sport, from 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at Lansdowne to the same time the following week, from sheer elation to the depths of despair.

- David Humphreys on the crucial penalty miss in the Five Nations clash with France

When I was going to school we were all afraid of him. He was both bad and mad and he used to beat the shit out of me . . . He was sexually molesting me one day and I hit him. He beat the pulp out of me and when I went home with a black eye my father said I probably deserved it.

- A former male pupil of Donal Dunne, a paedophile Christian Brother sentenced to two years for sex abuse

Mr Haughey told me he was asking a few friends to make a contribution of £5,000 each. I joined the party in January 1985, and this was in March. I presumed that a lot of members of the party had been asked to contribute.

- Former minister for health Dr John O'Connell on a request by Charles Haughey for a financial contribution to Celtic Helicopters, a company jointly owned by Mr Haughey's son, Ciaran

Mr Haughey's recollection is that at all times it was clear that you were making an investment in Celtic Helicopters.

- Counsel for Mr Haughey, Paul Gardiner, to Dr O'Connell

He did the State - some service!

- Brendan Solan, New Road, Galway, in a letter to The Irish Times

A Flynn must support a Flynn.

- Beverly Cooper-Flynn, on a motion asking her father to ex- plain an alleged £50,000 do- nation.

Mr Flynn is a public servant, working for the people of Europe and the people of Ireland. The people of Ireland - Taoiseach, Tanaiste, Opposition and national media - have asked Mr Flynn to account for himself and to do so now. If he has any respect for the position he occupies, he should do so immediately.

- Des O'Malley