Posted by 17/10/2025 – 08:05 AM
A Dublin firefighter charged with allegedly raping a woman in a Boston hotel in the US while visiting the city as part of St Patrick’s Day celebrations last year has gone on trial for a second time.
Terence Crosbie, 38, who has been in custody for 18 months, is accused of raping an American woman at the Omni Parker House hotel in downtown Boston after celebrating at the Black Rose bar on March 14th, 2024. He is pleading not guilty.
Last June, his court hearing, which ended in a mistrial, was told that Mr Crosbie, 38, from Dublin, was in the American city with work colleagues as part of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations on March 14th last year.
It is alleged that on March 15th last year, Crosbie raped the now 29-year-old woman at the hotel. Mr Crosbie had flown to Boston from Ireland on the same day of the alleged incident with colleagues and he was scheduled to leave the following Tuesday, March 18th.
Mr Crosbie was sharing a hotel room with a fellow firefighter, whom the victim said she had consensual sex with after meeting earlier in the Black Rose pub. They subsequently fell asleep in separate beds.
The victim alleged that she woke in the early hours of the following day to another man sexually assaulting her, and identified him to police as the defendant.
Prosecutors argued surveillance video shows Mr Crosbie in the room at the time the woman says she was raped.
According to an arrest report, Mr Crosbie admitted to entering the room but denied any physical contact or interaction with the woman.
After being interviewed by police, Mr Crosbie booked a flight for 10.10pm that night, days before his scheduled departure date. At the airport, Mr Crosbie boarded an even earlier flight, departing at around 7 pm. However, State police stopped the plane on the Logan Airport tarmac and removed Crosbie.
A medical examination was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital. Two clinical experts reportedly testified that while DNA from two males was found in a swab, the results did not contain enough DNA to identify their source.
Opening statements were heard in Suffolk Superior Court on Thursday afternoon, according to NBC Boston News and Court TV.
Prosecution attorney Daniela Mendes detailed the events of the day and night in question and argued that the alleged victim was “clinically sober” despite having alcoholic drinks throughout the day.
Attorney Patrick Garrity gave the defence’s opening statement, arguing the alleged victim never identified Mr Crosbie as the attacker, despite claiming the lights were on in the room and that she got a good look at the suspect, which points to reasonable doubt.
Dr Lindsay Walsh, an ER doctor at Mass General Brigham Hospital, gave evidence of treating the alleged victim on March 15th, last year.
The alleged victim arrived at the emergency department just after 3am and was discharged seven hours later at 10am.
Mr Crosbie has been in custody on a $50,000 bail at the Suffolk County Jail since his arrest.
The trial continues.
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