TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS is relieved after speaking to an Irish missionary who has was released from a kidnapping in Haiti.

Gena Heraty, who is originally from Co Mayo, was abducted along with seven others, including a three-year-old child, from the Sainte-Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti on 3 August last.

They were held for four weeks, before the violent gang released them.

In a statement today, Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris said he spoke on the phone with Heraty last night – a conversation which he said “relieved” and “inspired” him.

“Gena’s courage and commitment are boundless. She is someone of extraordinary bravery, unwavering commitment to peace, and decades of dedication to Haiti’s most vulnerable,” he said.

“She asked me to tell people to pray for Haiti and for peace.

“I am so glad that brighter days lie ahead for her and her family.”

Upon her release last week, Heraty’s family thanked the Tánaiste and the Department of Foreign Affairs for their assistance.

The family said they were focused on helping Heraty deal with the aftermath of the traumatic experience. 

“For now our priority is Gena – her health, protection, and privacy – and those in her care. We kindly ask that the media respect the need for privacy as all those involved recover from this traumatic ordeal.

“We continue to hold Haiti in our hearts and hope for peace and safety for all those who are affected by the ongoing armed violence and insecurity there,” they added. 

The Sainte-Helene orphanage, which Heraty oversaw, is located in Kenscoff, 10km southeast of Port-au-Prince.

Haiti has a major problem with gang violence and the abductions were carried out by a powerful criminal organisation that has seized control of much of Kenscoff.

The country has suffered multiple social and political collapses since a long-running dictatorship ended in the 1980s and was further destabilised by the disastrous earthquake of 2010.

Humanitarians say the situation has escalated significantly over the last five years, growing even worse than before over the last several months of this year alone.