Port-au-Prince, August 30, 2025.- Abducted on August 3, 2025 at the St. Helena orphanage in Kenscoff, the Irish humanitarian Gena Heraty, a child with disabilities and seven Haitian employees were released on Friday, August 29. The Irish government, through its Chancellor Simon Harris, confirmed their release without specifying whether a ransom had been paid.
The long-awaited news fell on Friday, August 29th: Gena Heraty, respected figure of the organization Our Little Brothers and Sisters, is free, as is the eight Haitians who had been captured with her, including a child. Their abduction, which occurred in the very enclosure of the St. Helena orphanage in Kenscoff, had upset both the local and international community.
In an official statement, Irish Chancellor Simon Harris expressed his « deep gratitude » to Gena's colleagues, community representatives, Haitian authorities, as well as European and United Nations partners mobilized for their release. He also praised the resilience of the Heraty family, faced with several weeks of anxiety.
Gena Heraty, established for more than 30 years in Haiti, is recognized for her unwavering commitment to vulnerable children and people with disabilities. « This happy outcome is an opportunity to recall the vital role played by Irish humanitarians and missionaries present in difficult contexts such as Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine. »added Mr. Harris.
While the release of the hostages is welcomed with relief, it highlights once again the serious insecurity in the Kenscoff area and more broadly the country, where gangs continue to impose their laws.
W.A.
