For nearly a month, the fate of Irish missionary Gena Heraty and seven others—including a three-year-old child—hung in the balance after an armed gang stormed the Saint-Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The group was taken hostage on August 3, 2025, sparking a wave of international concern, prayer, and diplomatic maneuvering that only ended with their release on August 30.
Heraty, a lay missionary who has dedicated more than three decades of her life to the people of Haiti, was director of a special needs program for children and adults at the orphanage, which is run by the international charity Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs (NPFS, or Our Little Brothers and Sisters). The orphanage, according to the charity’s website, cares for more than 240 children—many of whom have complex needs and nowhere else to turn.
The kidnapping, which included orphanage staff and a young boy, unfolded in a region that has seen a surge in gang violence and lawlessness this year. According to Reuters, Kenscoff and much of Port-au-Prince have been plagued by attacks from armed groups, many of which are now believed to be allied under the Viv Ansanm coalition, a powerful crime syndicate sanctioned by the United Nations. The gang behind Heraty’s abduction is thought to be affiliated with Viv Ansanm, though no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
As news of the kidnapping spread, appeals for the hostages’ safe release poured in from around the world. The charity NPH posted updates on social media, expressing "great relief and gratitude" when the group was finally freed. Heraty’s family, in a statement shared by multiple outlets including BBC and Mid-day, said, "We are relieved beyond words. We are so deeply grateful to everyone, in Haiti and internationally, who has worked tirelessly over these terrible weeks to help secure their safe return."
Back in Westport, County Mayo, Heraty’s hometown in Ireland, the ordeal gripped the local community. Father John Kenny, the parish priest, described how locals gathered repeatedly for masses and rosary prayers, holding out hope for her safe return. "Everyone is absolutely delighted and thrilled that Gena and the others have been freed," he told the Sunday World, adding, "The most important thing is that she is safe and making a recovery. I won’t say well yet because she was held in difficult circumstances and endured a terrifying ordeal."
Indeed, the conditions of captivity were harrowing. Fr Kenny described them as "difficult," with all eight hostages suffering from dehydration and the effects of trauma. Upon their release, they were immediately hospitalized. A source quoted by the Sunday World noted, "It does not appear they were treated well during their captivity." Communication with the kidnappers was sporadic and fraught, with NPFS management confirming that they had direct contact with the gang leader as early as August 5, but found it challenging to maintain consistent dialogue.
The incident unfolded against the backdrop of a deepening crisis in Haiti. According to United Nations estimates cited by Reuters, more than 3,100 people were killed and 336 kidnapped for ransom in the first half of 2025 alone. The number of displaced people has soared to around 1.3 million as armed groups have seized control of key transit routes and expanded their influence beyond the capital. The U.N. also reported that half of gang recruits are children, some forced into combat—an alarming sign of the country’s collapse into chaos.
Despite international efforts, including a U.N.-backed mission to help Haitian police regain control, progress has been slow. The Viv Ansanm coalition and other gangs continue to operate with near impunity, extorting payments from residents and targeting institutions like the Saint-Hélène orphanage that serve the country’s most vulnerable.
The international response to Heraty’s kidnapping was swift and coordinated. Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Harris, who also serves as deputy prime minister, played a key role in pushing for the group’s release. In a statement, he confirmed the hostages were "safe and well" and emphasized the need to keep Haiti’s ongoing challenges in focus: "While we welcome this news, it is also important that we do not lose sight of the challenges facing the people of Haiti." Heraty’s family echoed this sentiment, stating, "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."
For Heraty and her fellow hostages, the road to recovery will not be easy. Fr Kenny noted that there are no immediate plans for her return to Ireland, stressing that "the priority is Gena—her health, protection, and privacy—and those in her care." The family has requested privacy as they and the other survivors begin to heal from the trauma of their ordeal.
The kidnapping has cast a spotlight on the dangers facing humanitarian workers in Haiti, where the breakdown of law and order has made even the most basic acts of service perilous. Heraty’s decades-long commitment to the country, beginning in 1993, has earned her deep respect both at home and abroad. "She is valued in the community," Fr Kenny said, reflecting on the outpouring of support from friends, neighbors, and even strangers who offered prayers and solidarity during the crisis.
Still, the questions linger. It remains unclear whether a ransom was paid to secure the hostages’ release, and Haitian authorities have yet to comment publicly on the case. The attack remains unclaimed, a grim reminder of the impunity with which armed groups now operate in Haiti.
Yet, amid the darkness, there are glimmers of hope. The collective efforts of diplomats, aid organizations, and communities—both in Haiti and abroad—demonstrate the power of global solidarity in the face of adversity. Heraty’s family summed it up best: "The global outpouring of concern, love, prayers and solidarity shown for Gena and to us by friends, neighbours, communities, colleagues and indeed those with no connection to us at all has been a huge source of comfort and support."
As Haiti continues to grapple with violence and instability, the safe return of Gena Heraty and her colleagues offers a rare moment of relief. But for the millions still caught in the country’s spiraling crisis, the struggle is far from over.
