Posted at 7:53 AM, October 24, 2025
BOSTON (Court TV) — An Irishman has been found guilty of raping a woman in a Boston hotel.
Terence Crosbie, a 38-year-old Dublin firefighter, was visiting Boston with fellow firefighters to walk in the St. Patrick’s Day parade when the March 15, 2024 attack occurred.
This was Crosbie’s second trial. A mistrial was declared back in June after a jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict, according to Boston.com.
During Crosbie’s first trial, the alleged victim testified that she had consensual sex with another firefighter named Liam O’Brien, who was rooming with Crosbie, reported The Boston Globe. The woman testified that they fell asleep in separate beds, and she later awoke to Crosbie raping her. Prosecutors argued surveillance video shows Crosbie in the room at the time the woman says she was raped.
According to an arrest report obtained by Court TV, Crosbie admitted to entering the room but denied any physical contact or interaction with the woman.
A rape kit was performed at Massachusetts General Hospital, and two DNA experts reportedly testified that while DNA from two males was found in a swab, the results didn’t contain enough DNA to identify their source, reported The Boston Globe.
Crosbie, who has reportedly been in custody on a $100,000 bail at the Suffolk County Jail since his arrest, had his bail revoked upon the reading of the verdict.
Sentencing has been scheduled for Oct. 30.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 7 – 10/24/25
- Verdict Watch: Day 3 of jury deliberations.
DAY 6 – 10/23/25
- The jury deliberated for a full day without reaching a verdict.
DAY 5 – 10/22/25
- Daniel Reilly delivered closing arguments for the defense.
- Reilly emphasized Crosbie’s innocence and pointed to reasonable doubt in the case, in the form of no video or audio of the alleged attack and the lack of conclusive DNA evidence.
- Crosbie’s testimony declaring himself innocent constitutes reasonable doubt.
- The victim’s blood draw established that she was inebriated.
- Crosbie left to go to the airport after finding his hotel room door ajar because he was frightened.
- Erin Murphy delivered closing arguments for the Commonwealth, asking the jury to convict Crosbie.
- WATCH: Prosecutor Defends Alleged Victim’s Credibility in Crosbie Rape Case
- The alleged victim had no reason to lie and gave a detailed account of a stranger raping her.
- Crosbie exploited O’Brien’s “oblivion” after drinking to take advantage of the victim.
- Doctors and nurses who interacted with the victim found her to be “clinically sober” with no evidence of intoxication.
- Crosbie was the only other man in the room; there was no other activity in that room block around that time period.
- Crosbie left early for Logan Airport because he knew he was caught, not because he saw the door ajar.
- The jury began deliberations.
- Jurors found Terence Crosbie guilty on the single count of rape. Bond was revoked, and sentencing has been scheduled for October 30, 2025.
DAY 4 – 10/21/25
- Boston Police crime lab criminalist Jennifer Orzog testified to her analysis of the swabs taken by police from Crosbie and O’Brien.
- Orzog received the evidence collection kit from Massachusetts General Hospital and tested all swabs for semen. All tested negative.
- Genital and breast swabs tested positive for saliva.
- DNA analyst Alexis DeCesaris received extracts from the Boston Police crime lab to test.
- The swabbed extract showed a profile consistent with a mixture of two male individuals, but due to the allelic dropout possibilities, no conclusions could be made.
- The results were inconclusive, and no specific contributors were identified.
- Kathleen Cosgrove, Aer Lingus regional sales manager, testified to the flight records for the airline.
- The records showed that Crosbie had changed his flight to book an earlier departure, but the records don’t show the reason for the flight change.
- Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Michael Fiore coordinated with customs to remove Crosbie from the plane at the airport.
- By the time Boston Police reached out, the flight doors had already closed. Fiore worked with Customs, as required for international flights, to return the plane to the gate.
- Customs boarded to confirm Crosbie’s identity.
- The jury saw bodycamera footage of Crosbie being removed from the plane, where he appeared cooperative.
- WATCH:
- The Commonwealth rested its case.
- The defense filed a motion for a directed verdict, asking the judge to dismiss the charges.
- The judge denied the motion.
- Defendant Terence Crosbie took the stand.
- Crosbie confirmed he was sharing room 610 with Liam O’Brien, a work colleague but not a close friend.
- While at the Black Rose bar, Crosbie met and kissed a woman and went outside with her, but declined to do anything else with her that evening.
- In the bar, he had minimal interaction with the alleged victim.
- When he arrived at the hotel close to midnight, he found the radiator making a noise in his room. Shortly thereafter, O’Brien and the alleged victim came to the room. Crosbie immediately left to give them privacy.
- Crosbie sat by the elevators for approximately two hours before returning to the room. He entered after knocking on the door multiple times with no response.
- Crosbie said his bed was empty with his clothes from his shower earlier on top of it. He got undressed and got into bed without interacting with the alleged victim or O’Brien.
- Approximately 1.5 minutes after getting into bed, Crosbie heard someone get up. He said the alleged victim moved around the room gathering her things. Crosbie denied looking at her, touching her or having any physical contact.
- Crosbie agreed to speak with detectives after he was called to the lobby, despite being told he didn’t have to.
- Crosbie asked police to explain what “rape” meant legally. He offered police a hypothetical scenario and said he masturbated in the room that morning.
- After the police interview, he returned to the hotel room later and found the door left open. Frightened, he packed his belongings and left for the airport. He went to the airport five hours early and missed marching in the parade.
- Crosbie admitted to drinking at multiple bars.
- Crosbie said he was married, but didn’t tell the woman at the Black Rose bar about his wife.
- MORE: Irish firefighter denies rape allegations in Boston courtroom
DAY 3 – 10/20/25
- Boston Police Det. Joseph McDonough continues his testimony:
- On March 16, approached O’Brien in hotel lobby; he agreed to speak with detectives in private area
- McDonough did not interview O’Brien directly – Sgt. DeLuca and Det. Goff conducted that interview
- O’Brien contacted Crosbie, who met detectives outside elevators
- Crosbie interviewed in separate room from O’Brien
- Crosbie confirmed sharing hotel room with O’Brien
- Shown videos from Black Rose and 6th floor of Omni Parker House hotel
- Admitted going into room 610 and getting undressed into bed
- Said he remembered “the girl” from the bar but had no interactions with alleged victim
- Heard alleged victim get out of bed and look for her belongings
- Was planning to march in Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and leave March 19
- After the interview, placed flag on Crosbie’s passport to monitor departure
- Learned Crosbie booked 10:10 PM flight for March 16
- Returned to hotel around 5:30 PM – Crosbie not there
- Discovered earlier 7:10 PM flight to Dublin
- Mass State Police confirmed Crosbie on earlier flight
- Arrested Crosbie as he was escorted off plane at Logan Airport
- Retrieved Crosbie’s suitcase and photographed contents
- Found clothing matching what Crosbie wore at Black Rose (fire and shamrock emblem)
- Submitted underwear from suitcase to crime lab for testing
- Took photos of hotel room 610 and 6th floor hallway
- Collected buccal swabs from alleged victim and Crosbie using proper procedures and submitted samples to Boston PD Crime Lab with unique incident numbers
- On cross-examination, Det. McDonough said the alleged victim couldn’t identify Crosbie in Black Rose video
- O’Brien declined to participate in proceedings and lives in Ireland
- Crosbie voluntarily answered questions and wasn’t under arrest initially
- On March 16, approached O’Brien in hotel lobby; he agreed to speak with detectives in private area
- Det. Jesse Goff, Boston PD Sexual Assault Unit
- Spoke with Liam O’Brien at the Omni Parker House hotel on March 16, 2024 along with Sgt. DeLuca
- During interview, O’Brien provided a buccal swab (cheek swab) to develop a DNA profile
- While speaking with O’Brien, other officers were speaking with Crosbie in a mezzanine area
- Alleged victim’s colleague testifies about their day in the hours before the alleged rape:
- Attended a work event for about three hours, both of them were consuming alcohol and handing out drink tickets
- After the work party, the witness stopped by the office then they went to another restuarant with more colleagues and the alleged victim where they ate food and consumed more alcohol – left that restaurant to go to the Black Rose
- At Black Rose, sat near stage with live music, ordered food and drinks and had 2 drinks total at Black Rose, observed alleged victim eating a burger – left Black Rose around 10:30 p.m. via Lyft
- Woke up around 2 a.m. to a phone from alleged victim but ignored thinking it was a “butt dial” and turned phone off
- Received three text messages. Spoke with alleged victim the next morning.
- Hilary Griffiths, Toxicaology Analyst, Mass. State Police:
- Received toxicology kit with two blood samples from alleged victim
- blood alcohol content at 6 a.m. was 0.135%
- blood alcohol content at 2 a.m. stimated range between 0.155% and 0.235%
- Sheldon Cohen, Operations Manager at Glynn Hospitality Group
- Handled surveillance footage request from Boston PD at Black Rose
- Verified accuracy of recording dates and times by syncing DVR time
- John Fontana, Director of Security at Omni Parker House Hotel
- The hotel has cameras inside and outside of the building, in all public areas and entrances. There are no cameras in guest rooms or guest room hallways. The video is kept as part of regular business operations.
- The hotel tracks door activity through “lock-readouts” system. The system shows keycard usage, deadbolt usage, doors opened from the inside and can distinguish between multiple keycards.
- Provided video to the Boston Police Department in March 2024.
- Liam O’Brien was booked in room 610; Room 614: Damian Mulligan with guest Robert Kennedy; Room 620: Lawrence O’Toole with guest Peter McIlroy. All three rooms were booked through the same travel company.
- Key activity was noted at: 11:50 p.m., 11:54 p.m., 1:55 a.m., 2:16 a.m., 9:14 a.m. and 9:27 a.m. The last use of a keycard was March 16 at 1:05 p.m.
- Most rooms had no overnight door activity; Room 609 had door activity at 1:07 a.m.
- Fontana could not identify who was using specific keycards at any given time.
DAY 2 – 10/17/25
- The alleged victim returned to the stand to finish her testimony.
- She said she walked back from the Black Rose to the Omni Parker House with Liam O’Brien, describing it as a 10-15 minute walk during which they talked and kissed.
- The victim said she was feeling “social” from the alcohol but was not physically impaired or blacked out.
- There were two beds in the main room.
- The victim testified to a text message she sent at 2:18 a.m. saying that she woke up and “a guy was inside me.”
- She walked home and then changed her clothes, put her worn clothes in a bag, and went to the hospital. At the ER, she consented to an evidence collection kit and met with nurses and doctors. Her blood was drawn and she was prescribed medications, including Vyvanse and a medication for depression/anxiety.
- She met with police at the hospital and then again on March 16, where she identified a photo of Liam O’Brien.
- Under cross-examination, she acknowledged having a 0.135 blood alcohol content hours after the incident, and admitted being “under the influence of alcohol” but maintained she was coherent.
- She told the nurse she was unsure about oral penetration and ejaculation details.
- The alleged victim admitted she didn’t remember Liam’s name until the police told her.
- She did not remember meeting or hugging the defendant at the bar despite video evidence.
- Maintained that nobody else was in the hotel room when she and Liam arrived.
- Emergency room nurse Carly Littlejohn, who treated the alleged victim at the hospital, was called to the stand.
- She performed the evidence collection kit on the alleged victim on March 15, 2024.
- The alleged victim was described as alert, oriented, coherent and making eye contact.
- The kit took approximately four hours, a nurse was with the patient the entire time.
- Physical examination revealed the patient appeared tearful and anxious, pain to the vaginal area, a laceration to the external vaginal opening, and pain to head.
- Based on her experience, Littlejohn had no concerns about the victim being impaired at the time.
- Under cross-examination, Littlejohn confirmed the tear could have resulted from consensual sex, not just an assault.
- Boston Police Det. Joseph McDonough, a member of the sexual assault unit, conducted a 22-minute recorded interview with the alleged victim in her hospital room.
- The victim was crying with brief pauses during the interview, but answered questions appropriately and coherently.
- The alleged victim was unable to provide the names of the alleged attacker or the consensual partner.
- McDonough confirmed that the alleged victim told him that she’d gone to sleep in the second, empty bed after having consensual sex with O’Brien.
- After leaving the hospital, McDonough reviewed security video from the Omni Parker House, showing the alleged victim arriving with O’Brien at the hotel at approximately 11:53 p.m. on March 14. Video showed her leaving at approximately 2:16 a.m. on March 15.
- Room ledger information revealed the information for Terence Crosbie and Liam O’Brien.
- Surveillance video from the Black Rose showed the alleged victim dancing and interacting with O’Brien throughout the night.
- Video showed Crosbie walking toward the hotel room at 11:50 p.m. (before the alleged victim and O’Brien arrived), then in another area of the hotel.
- Crosbie remained in a chair on the sixth floor of the hotel until approximately 1:55 a.m., when records showed there was keycard activity at his hotel room door.
- Video shows the alleged victim leaving the hotel room floor at 2:16 a.m. before then departing the hotel.
- Video from the Black Rose showed Crosbie meeting, interacting with and dancing with a woman in a black shirt throughout the night. The two went outside at 11:02 p.m., with Crosbie returning alone about 10 minutes later.
DAY 1 – 10/16/25
- Attorney Daniela Mendes delivers the Commonwealth’s opening statement:
- Crosbie, an Irish firefighter, was in Boston to walk in the St. Patrick’s Day parade with his brigade
- The alleged victim went to a bar, The Black Rose, and met Liam O’Brien, who was rooming with Crosbie
- The alleged victim said she went to O’Brien’s hotel room and had consensual sex with him before falling asleep in separate beds
- The alleged victim claimed she woke up to another man raping her
- Surveillance footage shows Crosbie in the room at the time of the alleged rape
- DNA evidence identifies DNA belonging to two males in a rape kit performed on the alleged victim
- Argued the alleged victim was “clinically sober,” despite having alcoholic beverages throughout the day
- Attorney Patrick Garrity delivers the defense’s opening statement:
- Argues the alleged victim was drinking alcohol throughout the day and evening
- Argues the DNA tests does not identify Crosbie, only O’Brien
- Argues the alleged victim never identified Crosbie as the attacker, despite claiming the lights were on in the room and that they got a good look at the suspect – Crosbie and the alleged victim met at The Black Rose bar earlier in the evening and shook hands
- Points to reasonable doubt
- Dr. Lindsay Walsh, ER doctor/treating physician, Mass General Brigham Hospital
- Treated alleged victim on March 15, 2024. Alleged victim arrived at emergency department just after 3:00 a.m. and was discharged at 10:00 a.m.
- Patient medically cleared at 3:39 a.m., meaning alert, oriented, and capable of participating in own care and consented to the examination
- SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) was paged at 3:35 a.m. but was unavailable due to another case
- Dr. Walsh and a registered nurse performed the evidence collection kit
- Patient showed no signs of intoxication or impairment
- Neurological exam normal – moving all extremities, motor function intact, fluent speech
- No neck swelling, redness, bruising, or hematomas observed
- Evidence Collection Kit Components:
- Sealed box with standardized procedures
- Collection of clothing worn during incident
- Oral swabs if trauma suspected
- External genital examination and swabs
- Perianal swabs from rectum
- Internal genital examination using speculum to check for trauma and infections
- On cross-examination, Dr. Walsh agreed the alleged victim could have been intoxicated but still had capacity to participate in the examination
- Dr. Walsh confirmed there was a small vaginal laceration that didn’t bleed but acknowledged defense’s statement that such lacerations could result from consensual sexual activity or other innocuous activities
- The alleged victim began her testimony:
- On the day of the alleged rape, she attended a staff appreciation event before going to another restaurant with coworkers, where she continued to drink alcohol, before going to The Black Rose around 9 p.m.
- Testified about meeting Liam O’Brien at the bar, who was with a group of men wearing Dublin Fire Brigade shirts
- Described interactions as “very lighthearted” – talked, danced, kissed
- Liam introduced her to various people in his group
- Stayed at Black Rose approximately 2+ hours
- Surveillance video showed her dancing, socializing, and interacting with Liam and others
- Left with Liam, alone, around 11:30+ PM to go to Omni Parker House where he was staying
- The alleged victim’s testimony will resume Friday, Oct. 17.
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