LAST UPDATE | 5 Aug 2025

EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING to secure the release of Irish aid worker Gena Heraty, who was kidnapped along with several people from an orphanage in Haiti.

Gena was abducted along with seven others, including a three-year-old child, from the Sainte-Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti, over the weekend.

Gena, a native of Westport, Co Mayo, oversees the Sainte-Helene orphanage in Kenscoff, 10km southeast of Port-au-Prince.

The facility is operated by humanitarian organisation Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs (Our Little Brothers and Sisters).

It is believed the gang behind the abduction are associated with Viv Ansanm, a powerful criminal alliance that has seized control of much of Kenscoff.

Gena, who is in her mid-50s, has lived in Haiti since 1993, dedicating her life to working with children and adults with disabilities.

A member of Dublin-based missionary group Viatores Christi, she serves as Director of Special Needs Programmes for Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs.

Calls for release

Tánaiste and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris said this morning that he had spoken with Haiti’s Foreign Minister, Harvel Jean-Baptiste, to push for efforts to secure Gena’s release.

“The minister assured me of his support in our work to ensure the safe release of Gena, and all the hostages, who have gone through the most horrendous of ordeals,” Harris said.

“We have agreed to stay in touch about the case, which remains extremely sensitive.”

Harris said that “no stone will be left unturned” in the efforts to bring Gena and the other hostages home safely.

Humanitarian groups have called for the immediate release of Gena and the other abductees.

NPH International, which supports the orphanage, said it is “doing all we can to help bring them home safely” and described the situation as “under assessment”.

The UN has warned that gang violence in Haiti has reached critical levels, with more than 3,100 people killed in the first half of this year.

Kenscoff, once considered a safer area, has recently become a target for gangs.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is providing consular assistance to Gena’s family and will issue further updates as they become available.

“A great human being” 

Father John Kenny, Administrator of Westport parish in Mayo, said that the community are “saddened and shocked” by the news.

A congregation was held last night for Gena in Cushlough Church, close to the townland where Gena was born six miles south of Westport.

“The community were there in great solidarity, in great numbers,” Fr Kenny told RTÉ Radio’s Claire Byrne show.

“People were gathered and quietly prayed, and then met with Gena’s family afterwards.”

Fr Kenny added that Gena’s family are “very appreciative” of the support from locals, and said that they are “very conscious that people are praying and supporting them”.

Discussing Gena, Fr Kenny described her as “not one for the spotlight”, adding that she works selflessly and “always for the benefit of others”.

“That’s just the nature of the person she is, a wonderful, generous, caring, compassionate person, a great human being.”

“Only recently during her last visit home, I met her ata local school where the young children there had done some fundraising for her cause, and she spoke about her mission, her work,” Fr kenny said.

“It was just wonderful. You could see her beaming with with enthusiasm and energy around what she does, but like I said, never looking for for the credit to herself, instead always drawing attention to the cause.”