Terrence Crosbie who had been arrested at Boston Logan International Airport in March after he was trying to fly back to Ireland, was indicted by a grand jury on a rape charge in May
Terrence Crosbie appeared in Suffolk Superior Court yesterday where he pleaded not guilty to the indictment against him.
According to the prosecution, it is alleged that Crosbie used a hotel key card to access the room where the alleged victim was sleeping.
Dubliner Crosbie was in Boston with members of the Dublin Fire Brigade for the St. Patrick’s Day parade when he met the 28-year-old woman.
She told Boston police she had been assaulted at the Omni Parker House hotel after meeting Crosbie and one of his colleagues while out to dinner on Thursday, March 14, Assistant District Attorney Erin Murphy told the court yesterday.
The woman told investigators she went back to the hotel with a man who was staying in the same room as Crosbie where they both fell asleep in separate beds.
Prosecutors say Crosbie was not there at the time but returned to the room a few hours later in the early morning hours Friday. Hotel key swipe records have him accessing the room around 1.55am.
“Because the victim was asleep when he returned she was unaware that he was even there until she woke up to him actively raping her,” Murphy said.
“She demanded that he stop and asked what he was doing and the defendant continued, he did not stop and he made remarks to the effect of that he knew that she wanted this, that it was pathetic that his friend had fallen asleep and couldn’t do it and that he was going to do it for her.”
The woman collected her things and, according to hotel records, left the room around 2.15am when she texted a friend to tell them she’d been sexually assaulted. She then sought treatment at the hospital.
The prosecution claim that when Crosbie learned of the police investigation he tried to return to Ireland, by changing his flight and trying to board an even earlier one at Logan Airport. However, he was removed from the flight and arrested.
“When interviewed by police, Crosbie admitted that he had returned to the room in the timeframe in question and that there was a woman there when he arrived, but denied having any interaction with her,” NBC Boston reported. “He denied the rape allegations and pleaded not guilty on Wednesday.”
Crosbie’s defence argued that his client was not trying to flee the country but was trying to return home for help as he was unsure of what to do when facing legal trouble in a foreign country over a holiday weekend.
The defence asked for a $5,000 cash bail, citing concerns about Crosbie’s financial means while abroad but the prosecution demanded $100,000 bail, citing the nature of the charges and Crosbie’s connection to Ireland. They said his attempts to get on a flight were an area of concern.
The prosecution also pointed out that as Crosbie was removed from a departing flight at last minute, his immigration status is now considered an illegal entry.
They claim that if he was released, he could face detainment by ICE.
Crosbie’s bail was set at $100,000 cash by the judge who imposed conditions that the defendant must stay away and have no contact direct or indirect with the alleged victim, not to leave Massachusetts, to surrender his passport prior to release and not apply for another one.
At an earlier hearing one of his attorneys, Daniel Reilly requested additional records from the Omni Parker House and the Black Rose pub in the city’s downtown area- two locations where Mr Crosbie was the night of the alleged attack.
According to Mr Reilly, his team has received some footage but they are looking for a more detailed window of video surveillance from both the pub and the hotel. They are also requesting employee information from the hotel.
“CCTV footage from bars and hotels tends to be written over after 30 days,” Mr Reilly told the court. “We want to make sure we get to that before it might disappear, before memories might fade, in case it shows anything that is exculpatory or might serve as alter impeachment evidence.”
The prosecution argued that the request for employee information is too vague, not specific and irrelevant.
They claimed that Boston Police Department had adequately obtained records during their investigation and the defence should subpoena the police records.
The judge informed the count that Mr Reilly should obtain the records relating to Mr Crosbie’s actions and those he interacted with on the night in question. He added that it is understandable that the defence may want to obtain the records themselves and ‘not rely solely on the Commonwealth.’
Mr Reilly said his client maintains his innocence and that the case will likely proceed to the Massachusetts Supreme Court.
At a previous hearing, lawyers representing the Dublin Fire Brigade firefighter said he will “do everything” to clear his name.
“I can tell you right now, he is going to fight and clear his name and do everything that he can to address these charges and maintain his innocence,” Boston attorney Brad Bailey told Boston 25 News reporter Bob Ward.
“This is a man, Bob, who has never been in trouble before. Has no prior record, has never been in jail. Here he is, in a jail cell with no ability to make bail, really in a situation that is arguably punitive for somebody who has the presumption of innocence,” Bailey said.