The incident highlights escalating gang violence and kidnappings in Haiti, raising international concern.
Irish Missionary and Toddler Among Nine Abducted from Orphanage in Haiti
Irish Missionary and Toddler Among Nine Abducted from Orphanage in Haiti
An Irish humanitarian and a young child were among those kidnapped near Port-au-Prince.
In a shocking incident reflective of the rising security crisis in Haiti, nine individuals— including a 3-year-old child and Irish missionary Gena Heraty— were kidnapped on Sunday from the Sainte-Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, close to Port-au-Prince. According to local officials, the attack occurred in the early hours with intruders breaching the orphanage's walls without firing their weapons, marking the event as a "planned act" according to Mayor Massillon Jean, who confirmed the details.
Ms. Heraty, a long-time resident of Haiti since 1993, is the director of the orphanage which accommodates over 240 children, many of whom have disabilities. Following her abduction, she managed to contact the organization overseeing the orphanage, Our Little Brothers and Sisters, to relay her predicament. A source later clarified that no ransom has been demanded at this time, prompting Ireland's foreign affairs department to affirm its awareness of the situation and its commitment to provide consular support.
Gena Heraty, originally from Liscarney in County Mayo, has been recognized multiple times for her humanitarian efforts, notably receiving the Oireachtas Human Dignity Award. Despite ongoing threats and increasing gang violence, she expressed her dedication to the children in the orphanage in a 2022 interview, emphasizing, "The children are why I'm still here. We're in this together."
Kenscoff has been a hotspot for gang activity, experiencing constant raids that have plagued the region since early 2025. Armed groups effectively control much of Port-au-Prince, with reports indicating that they dominate approximately 85% of the city. Haitian police, supported by international allies, have attempted to reclaim power from these gangs through strategic operations; however, their efforts have yet to yield effective results.
The alarming trend of gang-related violence has reverberated through various neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, evidenced by a previous kidnapping incident involving six UNICEF employees earlier this month. The growing crisis has led the United Nations to report a staggering rise in kidnappings, with close to 350 cases reported in the first half of 2025, alongside a reported death toll exceeding 3,141.
As the conditions in Haiti worsen, families face extreme hardship, often forced to live in makeshift shelters while grappling with increasing health and safety risks, the UN has observed. With governmental stability under threat, UN Human Rights chief Volker Türk cautioned that escalating gang violence continues to exacerbate the crisis, displacing over 1.3 million individuals in the nation by June 2024.
Ms. Heraty, a long-time resident of Haiti since 1993, is the director of the orphanage which accommodates over 240 children, many of whom have disabilities. Following her abduction, she managed to contact the organization overseeing the orphanage, Our Little Brothers and Sisters, to relay her predicament. A source later clarified that no ransom has been demanded at this time, prompting Ireland's foreign affairs department to affirm its awareness of the situation and its commitment to provide consular support.
Gena Heraty, originally from Liscarney in County Mayo, has been recognized multiple times for her humanitarian efforts, notably receiving the Oireachtas Human Dignity Award. Despite ongoing threats and increasing gang violence, she expressed her dedication to the children in the orphanage in a 2022 interview, emphasizing, "The children are why I'm still here. We're in this together."
Kenscoff has been a hotspot for gang activity, experiencing constant raids that have plagued the region since early 2025. Armed groups effectively control much of Port-au-Prince, with reports indicating that they dominate approximately 85% of the city. Haitian police, supported by international allies, have attempted to reclaim power from these gangs through strategic operations; however, their efforts have yet to yield effective results.
The alarming trend of gang-related violence has reverberated through various neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, evidenced by a previous kidnapping incident involving six UNICEF employees earlier this month. The growing crisis has led the United Nations to report a staggering rise in kidnappings, with close to 350 cases reported in the first half of 2025, alongside a reported death toll exceeding 3,141.
As the conditions in Haiti worsen, families face extreme hardship, often forced to live in makeshift shelters while grappling with increasing health and safety risks, the UN has observed. With governmental stability under threat, UN Human Rights chief Volker Türk cautioned that escalating gang violence continues to exacerbate the crisis, displacing over 1.3 million individuals in the nation by June 2024.
