An Irish lay missionary who was taken at gunpoint from a Haiti orphanage last month was released on Friday. Source: The Tablet.
Gena Heraty, along with other employees and a three-year-old child, was kidnapped from the Saint-Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, Port-au-Prince, on Sunday, August 3.
All were released on Friday. There were no ransom or other demands that are known about and the people behind the kidnapping have not been identified.
Ms Heraty’s family said in a statement: “We are relieved beyond words. We are so deeply grateful to everyone, in Haiti and internationally, who has worked tirelessly over these terrible weeks to help secure their safe return.”
“The global outpouring of concern, love, prayers, and solidarity shown for Gena and to us by friends, neighbours, communities, colleagues, and indeed those with no connection to us at all, has been a huge source of comfort and support.
“For now, our priority is to Gena – her health, protection, and privacy – and to those in her care.”
Ireland’s foreign affairs minister Simon Harris said: “I am delighted to confirm that Irish humanitarian worker Gena Heraty has now been released.
“We warmly welcome the news that Gena and all of the Haitian nationals taken captive on 3 August, including a small child, have been released and are reported to be safe and well.
“This has of course been an extraordinarily difficult and stressful situation for the Heraty family. I wish to pay tribute to their resilience and determination to support Gena and her fellow captives over these past difficult weeks.”
Mr Harris said Ms Heraty was a respected humanitarian and deeply courageous person who had dedicated her life to supporting the most vulnerable people in Haiti.
FULL STORY
Irish missionary kidnapped in Haiti is released (By Ruth Gledhill, The Tablet)
