Good week
Seán Quinn
He got a hero’s welcome on his return to Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, after his release from Mountjoy Prison. He had served nine weeks for contempt-of-court orders to stop Quinn assets of €500 million being put beyond the reach of the banks.
Liam Keane
Drawing attention to potholes is an arduous task, but Keane did it in style when he entered a huge pothole in Lismire, Co Cork, in his swimming togs and uploaded the video to YouTube.
Al Gore
The former US vice-president enjoyed another success when the TV network he co-founded in 2005 was bought by Al Jazeera for a reported €500 million.
Bad week
Gérard Depardieu
The fact that the French actor has been granted Russian citizenship says everything about his values – after years of benefiting from the hugely subsidised French film industry, he is happy to live in the land of oligarchs rather than pay more tax.
John Boehner
He might have been re-elected as speaker of the House on Thursday, but the protracted negotiations over the fiscal cliff that saw Boehner undermined by Republican colleagues, and stories of his profanity, have damaged his standing hugely.
Mario Balotelli
Why always him, indeed? Manchester City’s Italian striker was engaged in another bust-up with manager Roberto Mancini this week, proving he’s a one-man slapstick comedy.