St. Paddy's weekend trip to Boston landed an Irish firefighter behind bars, charged with rape and slapped with a hefty bail. Terrence Crosbie, 37, from Dublin, was ordered to remain in Massachusetts after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a historic Boston hotel. According to Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden, Crosbie, who serves with the Dublin Fire Brigade, now faces a one count of rape and is ordered held on $100,000 bail.
The incident, which unfolded at the Omni Parker House, was reported by a 28-year-old woman being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital on Friday morning. Crosbie, who had flown into Boston earlier on Thursday along with fellow Brigade members, allegedly attacked the victim early that morning. The detectives were able to obtain video surveillance from the victim’s last known location - The Black Rose, a bar and restaurant where the accused and the victim had been seen Thursday evening, and the hotel. Caught in the midst of his escape efforts, Crosbie had rebooked his return flight from Tuesday to Saturday evening, but Massachusetts state police were quick to snag him off the plane on the Logan tarmac before he could take flight.
Highlighting the crucial role of victim testimony in such cases, Hayden praised the woman's decision to step forward. "As always in these matters, the willingness of the victim to come forward is crucial. 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 before he could be held accountable for his actions," Hayden said, as reported by the DA's office.
The DA’s office also took the opportunity to remind the public that support is available for those experiencing domestic or sexual violence. Individuals in immediate danger should call 911, while the SafeLink hotline offers assistance 24/7 at 877-785-2020 with multilingual services, and The Network/La Red caters to the LGBTQ+ community which can be reached at 617-742-4911 or 800-832-1901.
Crosbie's next court appearance is scheduled for April 16, where he will face a probable cause hearing. Until then, he will remain in Boston, unable to return to Ireland as authorities hold his passport secure.
