Gunmen raid Haiti orphanage, leaving eight individuals including an Irish missionary unaccounted for
Ireish Missionary and Others Kidnapped in Haiti
In a shocking turn of events, Gena Heraty, an Irish missionary who has been serving in Haiti since 1993 and oversees the special needs program at the Saint-Hélène Orphanage, was kidnapped along with seven staff members and a three-year-old child on August 3, 2025 [1][2]. The orphanage, run by Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs, an international charity with offices in Mexico and France, cares for over 240 children.
The incident occurred in Kenscoff, a once peaceful community in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, where gang violence and lawlessness have become prevalent [1]. The kidnappers forcefully broke through an outer wall and targeted the compound’s main building in a carefully planned operation [1].
The escalating violence in Haiti has been evident for some time, with more than 175 people reported kidnapped in the country from April to the end of June of this year [8]. Kidnappings have become a common criminal tactic, typically motivated by demands for ransom to fund weapons and gang operations [1]. Despite some international police support from Caribbean nations, Haiti remains without a strong peacekeeping force from major countries, and ongoing instability has delayed planned presidential elections [1].
Though specific gangs responsible for this kidnapping have not been publicly named, the incident fits a pattern of violence linked to powerful gangs controlling areas around the capital [1][4]. The orphanage, Saint-Hélène, has not been mentioned as a target for any previous attacks [10]. Gena Heraty herself was threatened with death during a gun attack on the orphanage in 2013, in which her colleague was killed [7].
The kidnapping has garnered international attention, with Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Simon Harris expressing concern and speaking directly with Haiti’s foreign minister to urge action [2][3]. Her family has also issued a statement expressing their deep concern over the situation, stating it is "evolving and deeply worrying" [5]. The United Nations has not provided any information regarding the immediate release of the kidnapped individuals [6].
This kidnapping underscores the severe security challenges facing humanitarian workers in Haiti amid ongoing gang dominance [1][2][4]. The situation remains fluid, and calls for the release of Gena Heraty and the other victims continue to grow louder.
The escalating gang violence in Haiti, as highlighted by the kidnapping of an Irish missionary and others from the Saint-Hélène Orphanage, is a significant issue in the general-news and crime-and-justice sectors. Despite international concern and calls for action, the ongoing instability in Haiti continues to pose severe security challenges for humanitarian workers in the region.
