Irish firefighter Terence Crosbie jailed over Boston St Patrick’s Day rape

The victim said she has experienced “sleepless nights and panic attacks” in the months following the attack at the hotel

Irish firefighter Terence Crosbie has been sentenced to no less than 7 years and no more than 9 years in prison after he was found guilty of rape.

The 39-year-old Dublin man was found guilty of raping a woman at a Boston hotel over St Patrick’s Day weekend in 2024. Judge Joshua Wall called what Crosbie did an act of “extraordinary sexual violence.”

Crosbie was tried twice, after the first trial ended with a deadlocked jury. During both trials, he took the stand and professed his innocence. The jury deliberated for more than 15 hours before returning a guilty verdict on October 24. Today, Judge Joshua Wall said that he had received many letters from Crosbie’s friends and members of the Dublin fire brigade, testifying to his character.

Crosbie spoke before the sentence was announced, saying, “I dedicated over 18 years of my life to selflessly serving the people of Dublin. I hope to contribute to society again someday.”

Today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requested 9-12 years in state prison as the sentence for Crosbie. The defense argued that this was higher than the guideline range, and suggested 3-5 years instead, which is on the lower end of the guideline.

The defense, led by Daniel J Reilly, asked Judge Wall to consider that Crosbie is a “foreigner serving time in a foreign country,” and stressed that he “won’t be able to return to the home he left.”

He asked him to consider the 20 months Crosbie has already served at Suffolk County Jail in Boston. Crosbie never posted bail during his time there. He also asked him to consider the impact Crosbie’s sentence will have on his family, saying that he will “miss formative years of his children’s lives.”

When Crosbie addressed the judge, he also asked him to consider his “wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters,” for whom he said he is the main provider. Many members of Crosbie’s family including his wife were present in the courtroom throughout both trials.

The prosecution argued that the impact of Crosbie’s conduct on his family should not be taken into account when deciding his punishment, saying, “he caused all of this.”

Lead prosecutor Assistant District Attorney Erin Murphy told the judge that Crosbie “should be punished for what he did to [victim]. The punishment should be proportionate.” She called the crime “Inhumane” adding that it “made no sense.”

She urged the court to “prioritize public safety” by “Imposing a significant may prevent future rapes.”

The victim also read out a statement before the court today, and said that the attack she endured at the hands of Crosbie, left a lasting impact on her relationships, her career, and her health.

The victim said she has experienced “sleepless nights and panic attacks” in the months following the attack at the hotel. She said walking past the hotel, a prominent Boston landmark, fills her with “dread.”

“I am reminded constantly of the horrible thing that was done to me,” she said. “I feel bleak and lonely when I should feel happy and loved.”

She said that she has required ongoing therapy and medical support in order to manage daily tasks, and finds herself “descending without warning into unhappiness that I cannot control.”

She added that her rapist has “never offered an apology,” adding, “it breaks my heart to know that we live in a world where someone can do such a horrible thing to another human being and not have the decency to hold themselves accountable.”

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