Prosecutors in the case against the Dublin firefighter accused of rape in Boston, Massachusetts, over St Patrick’s Day weekend will be calling additional witnesses from Ireland to testify.
Terence Crosbie (37) flew into Boston on Thursday, March 14th, with a group of associates from Dublin Fire Brigade to march in the St Patrick’s Day celebrations that Sunday. Mr Crosbie is charged with raping a 28-year-old woman in the early hours of Friday morning in a hotel room he shared with a colleague.
“I do intend to call several of the witnesses who were present here from Ireland,” assistant district attorney Erin Murphy informed the court at a Tuesday status hearing at Suffolk Superior Courthouse.
Ms Murphy also informed the court that while laboratory DNA testing is “ongoing”, the case is “on track for trial”.
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Mr Crosbie was called to the courthouse but his attorneys waived his right to appear in the courtroom.
According to Ms Murphy, Mr Crosbie booked a room at the Omni Parker House hotel with fellow firefighter Liam O’Brien. The complainant met Mr O’Brien at a bar that evening and went back to the hotel with him where they had consensual sex.
Mr Crosbie allegedly entered the hotel room hours later when the complainant was asleep, and according to Ms Murphy, the complainant awoke to find another Irishman, who she he had never met, “actively raping her”. According to Ms Murphy, the complainant asked him to stop, but Mr Crosbie did not stop and instead responded that he knew “she wanted this” and it was “pathetic” that his colleague was asleep.
The prosecution claims Mr Crosbie was seen on video entering the room at the time in question – 1.55am – and the woman leaving shortly thereafter. After she left, the complainant immediately texted a friend and sought treatment at hospital, Ms Murphy said.
Through his attorney Daniel C Reilly, Mr Crosbie previously denied having “any sort of sexual contact whatsoever” with the complainant, insisting that the complainant had fallen asleep in Mr Crosbie’s bed but that no assault occurred.
Mr Crosbie attempted to cut his trip short and leave the United States after he was questioned by Boston police but was pulled from the plane and arrested. Mr Crosbie has remained incarcerated at the Nashua Street Jail since – his attorneys claim he is unable to make bail.
In a previous hearing, Mr Reilly revealed that in initial forensic testing, Mr O’Brien was identified as a DNA contributor in samples taken from the complainant. “We know that Liam O’Brien is the male contributor,” Mr Reilly said.
Mr Crosbie’s DNA profile did not show up in early tests, according to Mr Reilly’s statement in court. Mr Crosbie’s DNA profile had been gathered from cups taken from his interview with police, and the state requested a sample from taken from Mr Crosbie directly.
Mr Reilly initially objected to supplying a sample, while insisting his client was innocent. “My concern is not that my client’s DNA is going to be found in either of these samples. He’s adamant in never having any sort of interactions with this woman in the physical nature,” Mr Reilly told the court.
The court ordered Mr Crosbie to submit a sample on August 5th.
In Tuesday’s status hearing Ms Murphy stated that forensic material continues to be under examination and is not yet available to turn over to the defence.
Mr Reilly also questioned if the additional Irish witnesses would be called to testify digitally or in person.
“There is some concern about witness availability given that several of the witnesses reside in Ireland,” Mr Reilly told the court.
Judge James Budreau instructed that logistical matters regarding Irish witnesses would be decided closer to the June 2nd, 2025, trial date.
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