The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs has said “no stone” will be left unturned in efforts to secure the freedom of an Irish woman abducted alongside seven others from an orphanage in Haiti yesterday, reports RTE.
Gena Heraty, originally from Westport in Co Mayo and in her mid-50s, manages the Sainte-Helene orphanage in Kenscoff, located roughly 10km southeast of Port-au-Prince.
The orphanage is run by the humanitarian group “Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs” (“Our Little Brothers and Sisters”), reports RTE.
According to Kenscoff Mayor Masillon Jean, Ms Heraty was taken along with seven staff members and a small child.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said he had spoken to Ms Heraty’s family and called the kidnapping “deeply worrying”, reports RTE.
He noted that Ms Heraty has committed more than three decades to serving Haiti, focusing her life on helping its most vulnerable citizens.
Calling for her immediate release, Mr Harris said his department remains “in close contact with the Heraty family, local authorities and Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs, the organisation Gena works for. The country’s two ambassadors are also in close contact,” reports RTE.
He said he had spoken with Ms Heraty’s sister Noreen and reassured her “that all is being done” to ensure her sister’s release.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier confirmed it is aware of the abduction and is offering consular assistance, reports RTE.
Ms Heraty’s family described themselves as “absolutely devastated” after her kidnapping, along with seven others, from the orphanage in Haiti yesterday.
They said the situation is “evolving” and “deeply worrying” and that they are working closely with Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs (Little Brothers and Sisters) in Haiti and in Ireland and the Irish Government, to ensure their safe release, reports RTE.
They asked people to keep Ms Heraty and the other victims in their thoughts and prayers.
The Irish arm of the charity, NPH Ireland, said it was aware of the kidnapping and remains hopeful for the safe return of all eight individuals.
It said the situation is being evaluated and that it would provide further comment once additional information is confirmed, reports RTE.
Back in April 2021, two French priests were among ten individuals abducted in Croix des Bouquets; they were eventually freed after nearly three weeks in captivity.
The group responsible for that abduction, known as the “400 Mawazo” gang, later kidnapped 17 American and Canadian missionaries six months afterward, reports RTE.
So far this year, Kenscoff has become a target of the “Viv Ansanm” (“Living Together”) gang, which has already seized control of several surrounding areas.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reports that at least 3,141 people have been killed in Haiti in the first six months of this year, as escalating gang violence continues to threaten the country’s stability, reports RTE.
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