Irish Missionary Gena Heraty Freed After Kidnapping in Haiti

Wed Oct 22 2025 20:47:02 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

After weeks of anxious waiting, the family of Gena Heraty, an Irish missionary detained by gang members in Haiti, expresses profound relief at her safe return.

Gena Heraty, the director of an orphanage in Haiti, was released after being kidnapped by gang members on August 3. Her family expressed immense gratitude for her safe return and highlighted the global outpouring of support during her ordeal.

The family of kidnapped missionary Gena Heraty in Haiti have said they are relieved beyond words at her release.

Ms. Heraty, originally from Westport in County Mayo, serves as the director of an orphanage in Haiti and was among several individuals abducted by alleged gang members in Kenscoff, near the capital, Port-au-Prince, on August 3.

The kidnapping sparked widespread appeals from the charity employing her, urging for her safe release.

In a statement released on Friday, Ms. Heraty's family confirmed her safe return alongside the other hostages and expressed heartfelt thanks to all those involved in her recovery efforts.

The statement emphasized the global outpouring of concern, love, prayers, and solidarity shown for Gena and her family, describing it as a tremendous source of comfort during their distressing time.

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