A Dublin firefighter has been handed a prison sentence of 7 to 9 years after being found guilty of raping a visitor during a trip to Boston. Terence Crosbie, aged 39 and a member of the Dublin Fire Brigade, was convicted last week in a Boston courtroom after a jury deliberated for more than 15 hours. He was visiting the US city to take part in the St Patrick’s Day parade when the alleged assault took place in the early hours of 15 March 2024 at the Omni Parker House Hotel.
Crosbie was staying in a room with a colleague when prosecutors say the complainant — a 28- or 29-year-old attorney — entered the room with his colleague after meeting her that evening at the Black Rose bar near Faneuil Hall. The woman testified that she had consensual relations with the colleague and then fell asleep in a separate bed, unsure that there was another man present. She recalled waking to find Crosbie assaulting her, quoting him as telling her “I know you want this… he (the other man) can’t even do this for you – what a loser.”
Throughout the trial, Crosbie denied the charges, testifying, “I 100 per cent didn’t do this. I’ve done nothing wrong.” He claimed he entered the room only briefly, found the bed empty, and left immediately — insisting he “did not touch her.” DNA evidence introduced at the trial identified two male contributors in the complainant’s kit, one of whom was the colleague. Crosbie’s DNA was not conclusively identified, but prosecutors urged the jury to focus on the broader circumstances and the surveillance card entries in the hotel.
Judge Sarah Ellis, presiding over the case in Massachusetts, handed Crosbie a sentence of seven to nine years’ imprisonment, giving credit for the 593 days he had already spent in custody. During sentencing, the victim told the court of the long-lasting trauma she had suffered and how her healing process had become a daily challenge. Crosbie’s defence highlighted his 18 years of service in the Dublin Fire Brigade, argued his family’s reliance on him, and said the prosecution’s requested sentence of nine to twelve years exceeded guidelines.
The verdict has sent ripples back to Ireland, particularly due to Crosbie’s position as a public-serving firefighter and the flag the case raises about behaviour by visitors abroad. The incident occurred during what was meant to be a celebratory trip for St Patrick’s Day — an event which often draws large contingents of Irish visitors to Boston each year. The Dublin Fire Brigade confirmed that Crosbie was placed on administrative leave pending conclusion of the legal matter and reaffirmed its commitment to high professional standards among its members.
For Irish observers, the case underscores the seriousness of sexual assault allegations abroad, the complexities of cross-border justice and the reputational impact for public service personnel. While the American legal system delivered the guilty verdict, the outcome also sparks reflection in Ireland on institutional oversight, travel conduct and the responsibilities that come with representing one’s country abroad.
Crosbie now faces the next phase of his life in a US prison, separated from his wife and two children in Dublin. The defence has indicated it will explore appeals, but for now the sentence stands.
