A Dublin firefighter convicted of rape has been sentenced to between seven and nine years in prison in a Boston courthouse.
Judge Joshua Wall stated that Terence Crosbie, aged 39, committed an act of "extraordinary violence" before sentencing him to "no less than seven years and no more than nine years" in state prison.
"It breaks my heart to 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," the victim told the court today in a tearful statement.
Prosecutor Erin Murphy asked for nine to 12 years calling what Crosbie did a "Bliztkrieg in the four walls of a hotel room".
The prosecutor stated that he attacked her when she was asleep and "particularly vulnerable" and had forever changed the victim's life.
"He chose her as a person that he could just throw a grenade into," she said.
Before sentencing defence attorney Daniel Reilly told the court that Crosbie will "put in the work to be a better man" and that the sentence will be especially punitive to Crosbie because "he is a foreigner serving time in a faraway country".
Crosbie also read a statement to the court. "I understand the seriousness of the situation," he said. "I respect the jury," he said.
On Friday, Crosbie was found guilty of raping a 29-year-old attorney in a hotel he shared with his colleague, Liam O'Brien in the lead up to St Patrick's Day.
The men were part of a group of firefighters who traveled to Boston to march in the parade.
The victim said she went with Mr O'Brien to the Omni Parker House hotel after dancing with him at The Black Rose bar. The pair had consensual sex and fell asleep in separate beds.
She said she then woke up to Crosbie actively raping her.
Crosbie has remained in remand since he was arrested on 16 March 2024, attempting to leave the country on an early flight home. His initial trial in June resulted in a mistrial.
He elected to testify on both trials, insisting he was innocent and denying he ever touched the victim.
"There was nobody in my bed, my bed was empty," he told the jury panel of six men and six women earlier this month. He "absolutely did not" rape the victim, he told the court.
The jurors did not believe him.
In closing arguments the defense argued that the victim was an "unreliable reporter".
The prosecution argued that Crosbie's testimony was "scripted".
