FIREFIGHTER GETS 7 TO 9 YEARS IN JAIL FOR RAPE AT U.S. HOTEL

IRISH firefighter Terence Crosbie has been sentenced to at least seven years in prison after he was found guilty of raping a woman during a St Patrick's Day trip to the US.

- BY ALANA LOFTUS

The 39-year-old Dubliner was convicted of the attack at a Boston hotel last year which Judge Joshua Wall branded an act of "extraordinary sexual violence".

Crosbie was tried twice, after the first trial ended with a deadlocked jury.

During both trials, he took the stand and professed his innocence.

The jury deliberated for more than 15 hours before returning a guilty verdict last Friday.

Yesterday Judge Wall - who sentenced Crosbie to a jail term of at least seven years but no more than nine - said he had received many letters from Crosbie's friends and members of the Dublin fire brigade, testifying to his character.

The father-of-two spoke before the sentence was announced pleading with the court: "I hope to contribute to society again some day.

"I understand the seriousness of the situation. I respect you [the judge], I respect this courtroom, I respect this jury and I respect everybody involved in this process. I have the deepest respect for this court and the legal system. I appreciate the time and attention the court has given my case.

"I have dedicated over 18 years of my life selflessly serving the people and city of Dublin. I hope to contribute to society again some day.

"I ask that the court take into account the large number of character references submitted by my family, my colleagues and from people both sides of the world.