A visiting Irish firefighter will serve up to nine years in Massachusetts state prison for raping a sleeping woman in a Boston hotel room during a St. Patrick’s Day trip.

Terence Crosbie, 39, of Dublin, was convicted of rape and sentenced on Oct. 30 to seven to nine years for sexually assaulting a woman while she was unconscious in a locked hotel room he shared with a fellow firefighter during a 2024 visit to Boston, as the New York Post reports.

According to prosecutors, the assault occurred on March 15, 2024, at the Omni Parker House hotel, where Crosbie and a friend had traveled from Ireland to take part in Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities. The victim, whose identity remains protected, engaged in consensual sex with Crosbie's friend -- the man she had met earlier -- in one of the room's two beds.

After the consensual encounter, the woman reportedly fell asleep in the other bed in the shared hotel room. While she was unconscious and covered, Crosbie climbed into her bed and initiated a 15-minute-long sexual assault. The woman awoke during the attack and later reported the incident to the police.

Crosbie denied the allegations, pleading not guilty at trial. Despite his denial, a jury found him guilty of rape. The trial culminated nearly nineteen months after the assault occurred. Prosecutors presented evidence describing the circumstances of the victim's vulnerability and the defendant’s actions during her unconsciousness.

Maximum penalty imposed

On Oct. 30, Suffolk Superior Court Judge Joshua Wall handed down the maximum sentence allowed under the charges -- seven to nine years in prison. The judge underlined the seriousness of the act, describing the incident as “an act of extraordinary sexual violence,” emphasizing that the woman had been “safely asleep, under the covers in a locked hotel room.”

The victim confronted the court with an emotional statement detailing the ongoing impact the assault has had on her life. She told the court that the attack shattered her confidence and disrupted her sense of security and trust. She also noted that Crosbie had never apologized or shown any indication of remorse since the incident occurred.

“My rapist has never offered an apology or any indication of regret for what he did,” the woman said through tears. “It frightens me to think someone could attack another person and never feel the need to apologize or show any sense of remorse.”

Plea for leniency rejected

During the sentencing, Crosbie’s defense attorney, Daniel Reilly, asked the court to consider a reduced sentence ranging between three and five years, citing Crosbie’s previously clean record, responsibilities as a father, and long-standing professional role as a firefighter. Reilly acknowledged the gravity of the conviction, calling it “serious” and “egregious,” but argued that the man’s life amounted to more than 15 terrible minutes.

“He’s a husband and a dedicated father to two young daughters,” Reilly said, presenting letters written by Crosbie’s wife and daughters as part of the sentencing package submitted to the court. His daughters, ages 15 and 8, described their father as “the kindest, most caring, and hardworking person we know.”

Though these letters expressed deep emotional support and a longing for their father’s return, Judge Wall ultimately rejected Reilly’s request for a lighter sentence. The judge reaffirmed the message that the justice system must send when punishing sexual violence committed under such invasive and violating circumstances.

Celebration trip turns tragic

Crosbie had traveled to Boston for the city's well-known St. Patrick's Day celebration along with fellow firefighters from Ireland. The trip had been intended as a cultural and festive exchange, but it ended in tragedy for the victim and criminal consequences for Crosbie.

While Crosbie’s friend had consensual sex with the woman during the visit, Crosbie violated that trust and safety, choosing to commit an act the court deemed unforgivable. He went on to deny the allegations, maintaining that he had not sexually assaulted the woman. The jury, however, disagreed after reviewing the victim’s testimony and related evidence.

Despite family pleas, character references, and emotional appeals, the legal system weighed the facts of the crime above personal testimony about Crosbie’s prior good behavior. The court made clear that his actions in that hotel room could not be overlooked despite his otherwise clean background and family ties.

Lessons to learn

1. Know your environment and the people around you: Even when in seemingly safe environments, such as hotel rooms among acquaintances, individuals must remain vigilant. In this case, the victim had no reason to believe Crosbie would harm her after an initially consensual encounter with someone else in the same room.

2. Clear boundaries and clear responsibilities matter: Crosbie’s friend did not assault the victim, but Crosbie chose to betray the basic boundary of human decency. People must respect the vulnerabilities of others, especially when they are unconscious or unable to consent.

3. Support survivors without victim-blaming: No matter the precautions one might take, sexual violence can still happen. Survivors should never be blamed for circumstances out of their control, and communities must focus on holding offenders accountable rather than scrutinizing victims.

Why this story matters

This case underscores the importance of accountability -- even for individuals with respected public roles like firefighters.

It reminds us that sexual violence can be committed by anyone and that communities must support survivors in their search for justice.

The story also highlights the belief that public sympathy or family support should never outweigh the need for fairness and safety in the legal system.