Irish sports star involved in dogfighting ring

[Jplaya2023]

Investigation exposes player as running illegal operation

DUBLIN, Ireland - A star of Ireland’s Gaelic football league was exposed Thursday as a director of an illegal dog-fighting club, an underground gambling activity that has wrecked the reputation and career of Atlanta Falcons football player Michael Vick.

The 17-month undercover investigation by BBC Northern Ireland’s “Spotlight” program, broadcast Thursday night, found evidence of 15 illegal dog-fighting operations in the British territory of 1.7 million people.The program secretly filmed Gerard Cavlan, a 31-year-old member of the County Tyrone Gaelic football team, discussing his ownership of more than a dozen dogs — and bragging about how one “hard-mouthed dog” gripped another in its jaws.

“Sure he had him in the chest, and he shook him and he shook him for 25 minutes,” Cavlan said during a conversation filmed covertly in his vehicle.The BBC program deployed an undercover specialist from England who duped organizers of two dog-fighting clubs in Northern Ireland and two breeders of American pit bulls in Finland who supplied dogs to Cavlan and other Northern Ireland-based dog fighters. All were filmed discussing the tricks of their trade and methods of evading detection by authorities.
The two Finland-based breeders, Robert Gonzales and Paul Dunkel, were shown being confronted by the BBC crew with evidence of their dealings before police arrested them.

The program displayed documents showing Cavlan acquired a pit bull, named Cannon Ball, from Gonzales and traveled to Finland to observe dog fights.


It filmed Cavlan saying he had co-founded a dog-fighting club called Bulldog Sanctuary Kennels. The program described his business partner as “Dee,” a Protestant extremist and drug dealer.
“Spotlight,” the flagship investigations program for the BBC in Belfast, also secretly filmed a dog-fighting competition in Finland involving Gonzales and Tom Bell, an organizer of another Northern Ireland dog-fighting club called the Farmers Boys.
Gonzales was recorded getting down on hands and knees in front of two 50-pound dogs and egging on his dog to kill the other.

The Gaelic Athletic Association permitted Cavlan to continue playing for Tyrone after the Ulster Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals raided a kennel and seized more than a dozen dogs, mostly pit bulls, that were bred for fighting. It identified Cavlan as co-owner of the raided facility and he pleaded guilty in April to possession of a dangerous dog.

At the time, Cavlan’s lawyer said his client had picked up the animal Cannon Ball for a Dublin friend and didn’t realize the dog — which had several scars — was being abused in illegal fights. He was fined $1,300 and ordered not to keep terrier breeds.

The football association and the County Tyrone team declined comment Thursday. Officials said they needed to see the program first. Attempts to contact Cavlan for comment were unsuccessful.

Cavlan’s team won the Ireland championship in 2003. This year it lost in the quarterfinals of the annual competition among teams from each of the island’s 32 counties.

Vick apologized this week after entering a guilty plea to a charge of dogfighting. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10. and he could go to prison for one to five years. He has already been suspended indefinitely by the National Football League.

*checks espn.com for breaking news on this story* *finds nothing*

*checks espn* *finds nothing*

*checks all major media outlets* *finds nothing*

Lets talk about it

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20517579/

 

[Addendum]

you didn't check the irish version of espn

 

[Jplaya2023]

you didn't check the irish version of espn

link plz

 

[Addendum]

Google it

 

[ShadowBoxing]

It's on the BBC right now: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6886772,00.html

 

[Badger]

Oh boy!!

Well I guess he should be punished to fullest extent of the Irish Laws, just like Vick should get here.

 

[Addendum]

Besides, why should people in the U.S. that aren't Irish give a damn about something that happens in Ireland

 

[Jplaya2023]

Besides, why should people in the U.S. that aren't Irish give a damn about something that happens in Ireland

ESPN reported crimes of sport stars in other countries. Why would this be different?

 

[Badger]

Besides, why should people in the U.S. that aren't Irish give a damn about something that happens in Ireland

Because, if we don't then Jplaya has no point...

 

[Addendum]

Because, if we don't then Jplaya has no point...

When has he ever had one

 

[Jplaya2023]

It's on the BBC right now: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6886772,00.html

THANKS...

 

[Badger]

When has he ever had one

never

*hope I got it right*

 

[ShadowBoxing]

ESPN reported crimes of sport stars in other countries. Why would this be different?

Because, while they report on stars from other countries, they stars they report on must have some popularity in the United States...such as Golf, Tennis and Soccer. Gaelic Football is hardly a sport of noterity, gets no airplay on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPN Classic. I've never seen a Gaelic Football game, and frankly (after being to Ireland myself) it plays way 2nd fiddle to Rugby and is far beyond Football (Soccer) which is far more popular.

 

[Jplaya2023]

Because, if we don't then Jplaya has no point...

the michael vick story was news across all countries.

why is this different?

 

[Addendum]

Read ShadowBoxing's post above yours dumbass.

kthxbi

 

[Badger]

the michael vick story was news across all countries.

why is this different?

See below...

Because, while they report on stars from other countries, they stars they report on must have some popularity in the United States...such as Golf, Tennis and Soccer. Gaelic Football is hardly a sport of noterity, gets no airplay on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPN Classic. I've never seen a Gaelic Football game, and frankly (after being to Ireland myself) it plays way 2nd fiddle to Rugby and is far beyond Football (Soccer) which is far more popular.

 

[Jplaya2023]

Read ShadowBoxing's post above yours dumbass.

kthxbi

kill the personal attacks

 

[Abaddon]

God,not again.

 

[Addendum]

or what, you gonna bust a cap in my ass?

 

[Jplaya2023]

Because, while they report on stars from other countries, they stars they report on must have some popularity in the United States...such as Golf, Tennis and Soccer. Gaelic Football is hardly a sport of noterity, gets no airplay on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPN Classic. I've never seen a Gaelic Football game, and frankly (after being to Ireland myself) it plays way 2nd fiddle to Rugby and is far beyond Football (Soccer) which is far more popular.

The only way those stars can have US popularity, is if they show those stars on stations in which people in the US can watch them. If we cant see or hear about stars from other countries how can they gain popularity amongst people of different countries.

 

[R0rschach]

the michael vick story was news across all countries.

why is this different?

Because no other country thinks it's the center of the world.

 

[Badger]

The only way those stars can have US popularity, is if they show those stars on stations in which people in the US can watch them. If we cant see or hear about stars from other countries how can they gain popularity amongst people of different countries.

Well that's about as clear as mud.

 

[Badger]

Because no other country thinks it's the center of the world.

Wrong, in this case.

Right, in many others.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

The only way those stars can have US popularity, is if they show those stars on stations in which people in the US can watch them.

Well du'h. But no one over hear gives two *****s about Gaelic Football, because last time I checked the United States doesn't have a Gaelic Football league...and why would they, it's a culturally Irish sport.

If we cant see or hear about stars from other countries how can they gain popularity amongst people of different countries.

By gaining popularity in their own country, something Gaelic Football does on only a local level.

 

[KenK]

If it's not one football player, it's another. When will they ever learn?