August 18, 2026
On Friday, August 29, the Irish government, through Chancellor Simon Harris, confirmed that “Gena and all the Haitians” who were taken hostage on August 3 at the Sainte-Hélène Orphanage in Kenscoff have been released safe and sound. This announcement marks the end of a month-long ordeal during which the international community and the missionary’s family worked tirelessly to secure their return.
On August 3, 2025, armed gangs stormed the orphanage run by Irish missionary Gena Heraty, kidnapping nine people—including a three-year-old child with disabilities and seven staff members—without firing a single shot. The orphanage, affiliated with the organization Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs, houses nearly 270 children, many of whom are vulnerable and dependent on vital support.
The kidnapping took place against a backdrop of extreme violence, with Kenscoff having become a strategic area overtaken by gangs allied with the “Viv Ansanm” coalition, now designated a terrorist organization by the United States.
Prior to the release, Irish authorities had demanded—unsuccessfully—that “everything be done to guarantee her immediate release”, stressing the humanitarian urgency and the gravity of the situation.
