Gena Heraty kidnapping: Simon Harris holds talks with Haitian counterpart

By Cate McCurry, PA

Tánaiste Simon Harris has held talks with his Haitian counterpart about the kidnapping of Mayo woman Gena Heraty.

Mr Harris, who is also the Minister for Foreign Affairs, spoke to Haiti’s foreign minister, Harvel Jean-Baptiste, by phone and asked that everything is done to ensure the release of Ms Heraty and the other hostages, including a three-year-old child.

Ms Heraty, originally from Westport in Co Mayo, was kidnapped along with seven other people from an orphanage in Haiti.

 

She oversees the orphanage, which is run by the humanitarian organisation Nos Petits Freres Et Soeurs (Our Little Brothers And Sisters).

It is understood Ms Heraty was among seven employees who were taken in the incident as well as the young child.

Speaking after the call, Mr Harris said: “I welcome my engagement with Minister Harvel Jean Baptiste after what has been an extremely traumatic few days for the Heraty family, as well as the families of all those who were kidnapped.

“The minister assured me of his support in our work to ensure the safe release of Gena, and all the hostages, who have gone through the most horrendous of ordeals.

“We have agreed to stay in touch about the case, which remains extremely sensitive.

“My officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are in constant contact with the Heraty family.

“When we have further updates, we will provide them.”

Mr Harris said he had been in contact with Ms Heraty’s family on Monday.

Ms Heraty is a member of Viatores Christi, a lay missionary organisation based in Dublin.

 

In a statement, the group said Ms Heraty was taken by armed individuals from her home at the NPFS (Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs) compound in Kenscoff on Sunday morning.

“Gena has worked in Haiti for over 30 years, dedicating her life to children and adults with disabilities through her leadership of NPFS’s Special Needs Programme,” it said.

“Her commitment, compassion and steady presence have made a lasting difference to many families in the region.

“Our organisation has supported NPFS’s work for a number of years and has seen first-hand the impact of Gena’s efforts. We are in close contact with our partners on the ground and remain hopeful for her safe return.

“We are thinking of Gena, her family and colleagues, and the adults and children in her care. We ask that her privacy — and that of those closest to her — be respected as efforts continue to clarify the situation.”

Meanwhile, Westport parish priest Fr John Kenny has spoken of the shock and concern in the area at the news of the abduction of Ms Heraty.

Fr Kenny told RTÉ radio’s Today show that when the news first broke that an Irish woman had been kidnapped, he feared it was Ms Heraty.

“We were all saddened and shocked to hear it was her.”

Friends and neighbours of the family attended a service at the local church on Monday evening where prayers were said for the safe return of the missionary who has worked in Haiti since 1993.

Ms Heraty’s sister, Mary Heraty Wrafter, spoke at the service and expressed the family’s appreciation of the support they are receiving from the community.

Fr Kenny said that Gena was “not one for the spotlight or to highlight herself, it's always the work she does that she draws attention to and the people she works with.

“Any fundraising events that we support, the local schools, the local communities constantly are generous to her cause and the cause she works for and reluctantly as I said she kind of has to come forward to do that, but it's never for herself, it's not for her own benefit, it's always for the benefit of others.

“That's just the nature of the person she is. A wonderful, generous, caring, compassionate person. A great human being, I've got to say.

“Only recently when she was home on her last visit to home and I met her at this local school where the young children there had done fundraising for her cause and she spoke about her mission and her work and it was just wonderful.

“You could see her beaming with enthusiasm and energy around what she does, but like I said, never looking for the credit to herself but always drawing attention to the cause.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance. – Additional reporting: Vivienne Clarke