Never in the history of Irish criminal jurisprudence has one person been presumed to have caused so much wretchedness to so many. A haemorrhage of harm that is unlikely to heal in a generation.
- Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan jailing for 28 years John Gilligan on drugs offences. Gilligan was acquitted of murdering Veronica Guerin
We are very satisfied with the result today. It is not a question of how an individual is pleased at the result. We operate in a professional manner. It is not a personal vendetta.
- The Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, after the sentencing
I think you could say he's disappointed.
- Mr Joe Rice, solicitor for Gilligan
The kids let out an "ooh" sound.
- Kenosha, Wisconsin, resident James Twomey, parent of a third-grade student who was shown a pornographic film in class. A cleaner had accidentally left the tape in a school VCR and the teacher didn't notice until after pressing play
There will be many tears around the British countryside. Our farms should be starting to jump to life with new-born lambs and calves. Instead, many will feel that spring has been cancelled and their farms are simply dead.
- Mr Ben Gill, president of the National Farmers' Union, Britain
Your association may feel able to abandon the students in this predicament; the Government will not.
- The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, of the ASTI
We are more resolute than ever. But the Government will probably let us sweat it out for another fortnight at least.
- Member of the ASTI's standing committee
If she's really as horrid as she purports to be then I am a Dutchman.
- Mr Yos Van Hoogstraaten in a letter to a British paper on Ms Anne Robinson, the quiz show hostess
I would like to see a cap with a reasonable amount. I don't want to pin myself to any particular amount but I would be talking that type of sum or lower.
- The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, talking about a cap of £4,000 on political donations, as proposed by Mr Dempsey, Minister for the Environment
Sir Anthony's report establishes that I did not lie, did not deceive and did not set out to mislead.
- Mr Peter Mandelson, former Northern Ireland Secretary
Britain is now the leper of Europe.
- Minister of State for the Marine Mr Hugh Byrne in a reference to the foot-and- mouth crisis.
In strict human terms this was a rash and unkind allegation which sheds very unfavourable light not only on the Irish Government but on the Irish State.
- Fine Gael MEP Mr Joe McCartin of Mr Byrne's remark
The price that the Palestinians pay [for violence] has to be higher than the price Israel pays.
- Uzi Landau, the new hard-line Public Security Minister
I am Al Gore and I used to be the next president of the United States.
- Mr Gore addressing the prestigious Bocconi University in Milan
Intel has been hit like everyone else.
- IDA Ireland spokesman on Intel's decision to scale back its expansion at Leixlip
Thankfully, I'm leaving the room as she is coming in. I mean, who wants to share the screen with a goddess? I know better than that.
- Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker on filming with Claudia Schiffer
It is my view we will get the policing service that everybody deserves and desires but let us be cautious, let us play this properly and let us understand that there are huge forces of resistance to bringing about civic policing.
- Mr Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein leader