Fundraising Campaign for Irish Firefighter Accused of Rape in Boston Shut Down

 An online crowdfunding campaign launched in support of Dublin firefighter Terence Crosbie, who is facing rape charges in the United States, has been taken offline. The fundraiser, hosted on GoFundMe, was organized by family, friends, and colleagues to assist with Crosbie’s legal expenses, citing his ongoing incarceration and the mounting cost of his defense.

Crosbie, 38, stands accused of raping a 29-year-old American woman in a Boston hotel room on March 14, 2023, during a visit to the U.S. as part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. He was in the city with fellow firefighters and had been staying at the Omni Parker House Hotel in downtown Boston.

His trial commenced on June 9, 2024, at the Suffolk County Courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts, with Judge Sarah Weyland Ellis presiding. Crosbie pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, the proceedings ended in a mistrial last month. Following the mistrial, Judge Ellis cited Crosbie as a flight risk and raised his bail from $10,000 to $50,000. His retrial is scheduled to begin on October 14, 2024.

According to court testimony, Crosbie had shared his hotel room with a fellow firefighter. The alleged victim testified that she had consensual sex with the roommate after meeting him earlier that evening at the Black Rose pub, after which they fell asleep in separate beds. She alleged that she woke in the early hours to find a different man, later identified as Crosbie, sexually assaulting her.

The now-disabled fundraiser described Crosbie as being "thousands of miles from home," and emphasized the emotional and financial toll of the case on his family. “Since March 2024, Terence (Terry) Crosbie has been incarcerated in Suffolk County Jail, separated from his beloved wife and two young daughters,” the appeal read. It further stated, “He is facing serious legal proceedings in a foreign country where the legal system is unfamiliar and the costs are staggering.”

The campaign warned that without continued support, Crosbie might be forced to replace his current legal team. “That would not only delay his case further, prolonging his unjust confinement, but would risk the fairness of the proceedings altogether,” the post claimed.

Crosbie remains in custody as he awaits his second trial in October. The case continues to draw significant public attention both in Ireland and the United States.