‘shock’ | 

Pictured: Police mugshot of Dublin firefighter accused of raping woman in Boston

A source told the Sunday World that there is widespread shock at the news.

Today at 15:14

This is the Dublin firefighter who is accused of raping a woman at a hotel in Boston over St Patrick’s weekend.

Terrence Crosbie (37), who has an address in Dublin, was arrested after allegedly raping the woman on Friday at the Omni Parker House hotel in Suffolk County.

Mr Crosbie was part of a delegation of Dublin Fire Brigade officers who travelled to the US for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

On Monday night, he was charged with one count of rape in Boston Municipal Court Central Division, police there said in a statement.

According to local reports, Boston police interviewed the 28-year-old woman at Massachusetts General Hospital on Friday where she alleged she was sexually assaulted at the Omni Parker House hotel.

It is reported CCTV showed Mr Crosbie and the woman at the Black Rose bar on State Street on Thursday evening.

US media report how court documents allege that Mr Crosbie’s friend and the woman returned to the hotel room that Crosbie and his friend were sharing.

It is alleged that CCTV footage showed Mr Crosbie returning to the hotel two hours later and the woman told police she woke up to the firefighter sexually assaulting her.

Dublin Fire Brigade has confirmed that they have launched an internal investigation.

A source told the Sunday World that there is widespread shock at the news.

Mr Crosbie had been well regarded within the Dublin Fire Brigade as a dependable member of staff.

He was also known to be heavily involved within his local community and a keen MMA fighter.

After being charged, Mr Crosbie was held on $100,000 bail and was ordered to surrender his passport and not leave Massachusetts.

Crosbie is due back in court on April 16.

US investigators have claimed Mr Crosbie was due to return to Ireland on Tuesday, but booked a flight for Saturday after police interviewed him earlier in the day.

In a statement, they claim he allegedly boarded an earlier flight in Logan International Airport before state police stopped the plane and removed him.

“As always in these matters, the willingness of the victim to come forward is crucial,” DA Kevin Hayden said in a statement.

“This victim deserves enormous credit for doing that in this case. I’m grateful for the alertness of police in finding out that Mr. Crosbie was attempting to leave the country.”

In a statement to the Sunday World earlier this week, Dublin Fire Brigade said they are now launching an internal investigation and are co-operating with US law officials.

“Dublin Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer has been made aware that the Boston Police Department have begun a criminal investigation into an alleged serious case involving a member of Dublin Fire Brigade.

“The firefighter has immediately been placed on leave,” a spokesman said.

“We cannot comment on the specific circumstances but we would reiterate the high standards that we expect from all who represent our organisation at any event.

“As a result we are conducting an internal investigation and establishing the facts in collaboration with the appropriate authorities and the organisers of the delegation.

“As this is a criminal investigation we will not be making any further comment at this time.”