Tributes, outbursts, gaffes and rhetoric... Margaret Canning selects the stand-out statements of the year

“I can’t express strongly enough that I am not going because of some hidden or some revealed wrongdoing on my part.”

Ian Paisley junior MLA quits as junior minister in February after a row over lobbying and his links with property developer Seymour Sweeney.

His father Ian Paisley announced his resignation as First Minister one month later. In an interview, he said he had “smashed” republicans: “I took away their main plank. Their main plank was that they would not recognise the British government. Now they are part of the British government.”

Another political heavyweight left the stage in May. At a surprise press conference with tearful cabinet colleagues, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, damaged by a stream of allegations of financial irregularities from the Mahon Tribunal, said: “I've been privileged to serve my community, party and country for many years. Never in all the time that I served in politics have I ever put my personal interest ahead of the public good.”

“Homosexuality is not natural. My Christian beliefs tell me that it is an abomination and that is very clear.”

On June 6 a few days after her husband Peter Robinson was appointed First Minister, Strangford MP Iris Robinson expressed controversial views on homosexuality.

“It's become like a semi-religion and any difference from it is regarded as heresy which is not healthy in any society.”

Environment Minister Sammy Wilson gives his verdict on the climate-change lobby.

“We do not need to subject 10-year-old children to selection tests to put them on an educational route that is best for them. A test that sees children leave a primary school to go to multiple post-primary schools. We need to keep families together and keep communities together.”

Sinn Fein Education Minister Caitriona Ruane responds to criticism of her proposed changes to the 11-plus in the Belfast Telegraph in November.

The Republic of Ireland voted against the Lisbon Treaty in June. A second referendum will be staged next year. Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the no vote left them in “uncharted territory”. He added: “We have to see how we can chart that territory.”

“The most worrying thing about this meeting is the fact that clearly the message is not properly being heard, perhaps not even being heard at all. We have said no.”

Declan Ganley, leader of the anti-Lisbon Treaty lobby after a meeting with French president Nicolas Sarkozy in July.

“The local sergeant told me we had to apply to the Parades Commission if we wanted to parade the turkeys up the street. The sergeant himself has a one-legged rooster and he's going to be bringing it to the parade.”

Joe Mahon, one of the organisers of Ireland’s first Turkey Walk in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh in December.

“I’d have guessed I was eating thin strips of mole poached in Ovaltine. It is revolting. It is ill-conceived, incompetent, indescribably awful.”

Times restaurant critic Giles Coren describes chicken marsala at Goodfellas in west Belfast. He reviewed the restaurant in March, after the Court of Appeal overturned a finding of libel against the Irish News for publishing an unfavourable review.

“The police family have lost four fine police officers in what are deeply tragic circumstances and our heartfelt condolences go out to their families.”

Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde speaking in November after four police officers were killed in Warrenpoint while responding to an emergency call-out.

Political journalist John Sergeant bowed out of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing after receiving sustained support from the public — and sustained criticism from the show’s judges.

“The people’s Travolta.”

Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson describes John Sergeant before expressing a sneaky desire to go on the show himself.

“Simon said I was incredible on the night and didn’t make one mistake.”

Eoghan Quigg, two days after the Dungiven hopeful was beaten to the X-Factor title.

“It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.”

Democratic President-Elect Barack Obama in his victory speech in Chicago’s Grant Park following a massive win in the US elections on November 4. Obama will become the USA’s 44th president on January 20.

In a speech in September, Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin flashed her ‘hockey mom' credentials to the world: “I love those hockey moms. You know, they say, what is the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.”

l “I've been sleeping like a baby. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry, sleep two hours, wake up and cry.”

Defeated Republican hopeful John McCain.

“On behalf of the people of France, France will never forget. France will never forget that when it was virtually wiped out, down on its knees, it was Britain who stood by us.”

French president Nicolas Sarkozy pays tribute to Britain's role in World War II at a banquet at Windsor Castle in March.

“If you want the facts, it's a size 10 shoe that he threw.” George W Bush after having shoes thrown at him by a protesting journalist during his final Iraqi press conference. Showing the soles of shoes is a grave insult in Arab states.

Manchester United ‘did the double’ by winning the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League. After their victory in the champions league against Chelsea in Moscow on May 21 — which they won 6-5 on penalties — manager Alex Ferguson said: “It’s a fantastic achievement.” The year was the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, in which 11 Manchester United players and staff were killed with 10 others. Was their double victory fate, Sir Alex was asked? “I think so. I think we deserved to win it,” he said.

“It’s great to be back. A lot of people didn’t think we would be back — not back today and not ever, but here we are. It feels good. This is a great day.”

Tyrone captain Brian Dooher after the Ulster side won the All-Ireland for the third time in six years.

Dubliner Padraig Harrington won the Open Championship for the second year in a row and a mere three weeks later, was the first European golfer in nearly 80 years to win the US PGA Championship. Last month he was named European Tour Golfer of the Year for the second year running, when he said: “I am sure that in 20 years’ time, when I am sitting back at home reflecting on my career, I might hear somebody — perhaps even one of my sons — say they’d heard some player or another had been announced as The European Tour Golfer of the Year. At that moment I’d be able to say to them: ‘Hey, I won that twice you know’, and I’d be proud to do so.”

Rafael Nadal defeated world number one Roger Federer in a nail-biting five-set Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final, hailed as one of the most memorable Grand Slam showdowns ever. John McEnroe, former Wimbledon champion and BBC pundit, said: “I have just witnessed the greatest match I have ever seen. The drama, the quality and the way it ended when it seemed as though no more tennis could possibly be played was remarkable, to put it mildly.”

Ireland’s Roy Keane stepped down as manager of Sunderland on December 4 after just over two years in the role. His former Republic of Ireland team-mate Niall Quinn — now Sunderland’s chairman — said: “Roy is his harshest critic. He just felt he had completed his journey here...”

In November, Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie announced they were divorcing after eight years of marriage.

In December, her spokeswoman said Ritchie had received a settlement worth £60m, though Madonna denied this shortly afterwards. In a statement on a financial agreement on December 17, the couple said: “The financial details of the settlement will remain private, save to say that both of us are happy with our agreement. Our primary concern, like any co-parents, is the care and wellbeing of our children.”

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills McCartney split after five years of marriage, the couple’s battle quickly dubbed Mucca v Macca by the tabloids. While negotiating their final settlement in court, Mills-Macca threw water over her husband’s solicitor Fiona Shackleton. “The husband, I thought, in a telling comment, said that the wife liked to be the centre of attention,” wrote Mr Justice Bennett, in his judgment of March 17.

Hollywood movie idol and philanthropist Paul Newman (83) died of cancer on September 26, with a 50-year marriage to Joanne Woodward and more than 50 films to his credit. Director Sam Mendes said: “To say he was an extraordinary man would be an understatement. It seems to me one of the great 20th-century lives, a shining example of how to use global fame for the greater good.”

The Taoiseach vents his spleen at the Dail at persons unknown on May 21 — but doesn’t make sure his microphone is turned off first. “Ring those people and get a handle on it, will you? Bring in all those f***ers.”

“Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life that few had the pleasure of truly knowing him.”

The father of Australian actor Heath Ledger (28) pays tribute to his son who was found dead in his New York apartment in January.

On May 3, Kate and Gerry McCann marked the first anniversary of their three-year-old daughter’s disappearance from Praia da Luz, a holiday resort in the Algarve. Gerry McCann said: “She's still out there and we're asking for help to find her.” The couple were cleared of arguido, or ‘suspect' status, in July.

And in February the public were worried that another much-loved child had been abducted, this time in Dewsbury, west Yorkshire. But nine-year-old Shannon Matthews had been imprisoned by a family friend acting in cahoots with her mother Karen. The child was found in the bottom of a bed in Michael Donovan’s home 24 days after her disappearance.

Matthews and Donovan were convicted of kidnapping, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice. During the pair’s trial in December, Det Supt Andy Brennan said: “It is difficult to understand what type of woman would subject her own daughter to such a wicked and evil crime.”

In November, a 27-year-old woman, her boyfriend and a lodger were convicted of causing the death of 17-month-old Baby P in Haringey, London in August 2007. The house had been visited 60 times by social workers and other council professionals before the baby died. Sharon Shoesmith, from Northern Ireland, was head of children’s services at the council, but was fired following on outcry over the case. “The very sad fact is that we can't stop people who are determined to kill children,” she said on November 11. “I am satisfied that the action that should have been taken was taken.”

Motorcycling ace Robert Dunlop was killed on May 15 during practice for the North West 200 — Northern Ireland’s biggest sporting spectacle. At his funeral outside Ballymoney on May 19, Barry Symonds, head of the Honda riding team, said: “Let us honour a true hero by saying goodbye to a wonderful husband, son and father. Robert Dunlop... keep ’er lit.”

Another friend described him as a “5ft 2 giant”. Robert was buried alongside brother Joey, who was killed in a crash in Estonia in 2000. His 20-year-old son Michael won the opening 250cc race of the competition. “Screw this, I'm going to win it for my dad”.

In April, Josef Fritzl (73) of Amstetten in Austria was found to have kept his daughter Elisabeth imprisoned in the basement of their home, fathering seven children by her. “The cellar in my building belonged to me and me alone. It was my kingdom, that only I had access to. Everyone who lived there knew it,” Fritzl was quoted as telling his lawyer after his arrest.

Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB and HBOS were rescued by the government in a massive £37bn bail-out in October. On October 13, Gordon Brown said: “In extraordinary times, with financial markets ceasing to work, the government cannot just leave people on their own to be buffeted about.”

In the House of Commons on December 10, he slipped up when referring to Britain’s reaction to the global financial crisis. “We not only saved the world, er, saved the banks and led the way...”

“The teachers must have had good reasons for going on strike, but I hope that it doesn't ever happen again.”

One mother on the three-week strike by teachers at Movilla High School in Newtownards, Co Down, in November.

The Stormont Executive met on November 20 after five months of inaction over running sores such as a stadium for the Maze and an Irish language act. On the big day when Stormont finally thawed, First Minister Peter Robinson said: “We are down to business and people will judge by the results of the meetings that follow.”

Lehman Brothers, one of America’s oldest banks, filed for bankruptcy in September. Its head, Richard Fuld, said: “I feel horrible about what happened,” after telling Congress how he took home about €300m in pay and bonuses in the last eight years.

“It will be missed. Woolworths holds a lot of memories for people, especially when they were children and going to get a bag of sweets or a toy.”

William Dorman, an office worker from north Belfast, on the demise a retail giant.