Mayo woman among nine kidnapped from Haitian orphanage

A Mayo woman is among nine people who were kidnapped from an orphanage near the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, RTÉ News is reporting.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance.

Gena Heraty, a native of Westport , oversees the Sainte-Helene orphanage in the commune of Kenscoff, about 10km southeast of the capital.

The facility is operated by the humanitarian organisation "Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs" ("Our Little Brothers and Sisters").

Ms. Heraty, a three-year-old child and seven employees were taken, according to Kenscoff Mayor Masillon Jean.

In April 2021, two French priests were among ten people kidnapped in Croix des Bouquets before they were released nearly three weeks later.

The same group behind that kidnapping, the "400 Mawazo" gang, took a group of 17 American and Canadian missionaries hostage six months later.

Since the start of this year, Kenscoff has found itself in the crosshairs of the "Viv Ansanm" ("Living Together") gang, which has already taken control of several other localities.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said at least 3,141 people have been killed in Haiti in the first half of this year, where the growing impact of gang violence threatens to further destabilise the nation.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris said he has spoken to the family of Gena Heraty and said her kidnapping is “deeply worrying."

He added: “The kidnapping of Irish citizen Gena Heraty, along with seven of her colleagues and a three-year-old child from the grounds of an orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti, is deeply worrying.

“Gena has served the people of Haiti for over 30 years."