Irish charity worker Gena Heraty has said she “prays all the time” for the men who kidnapped her in Haiti in August 2025.

It has been four months since the Mayo native was held hostage from August 4 to August 29 in Haiti, where she works as an aid worker, supporting adults and children with special needs.

Ms Heraty said “she wished to God” that there was another option for young men in Haiti who “get dragged into this kind of a life”, other than working for what she described as their “gang leaders.”

"The thing about life is, you can be petrified, and still feel sad for people who are terrifying you,” said Ms Heraty, who added that her captors told her that they were “working for the devil”.

Speaking today on RTÉ’s News at One programme, Ms Heraty said that being able to see those who were also held captive on a regular basis was helpful to “chat through things” and “laugh at some things”.

Despite being a victim of an intruder attack in Haiti in 2013, she feels that Haiti is no more unsafe than many other places in the world.

"Is it wise for people to get into cars, when you have car accidents every day of the week?” Ms Heraty said, justifying her decision to remain there and continue her work.

"This is where I live, this is where my home is, this is where the children that I’m committed to are.

"These children with disabilities deserve to be loved and taken care of, and provided with the best services.”

Ms Heraty said that no matter how tough things got in Haiti, her work must continue.

"When bad things happen, you just have to double your efforts to do good things – and we’re doing that,” Ms Heraty said.

"When you love people you worry about them,” she said.

She admitted that leaving home after her visit before Christmas was particularly difficult, as she saw first-hand the level of concern and anxiety that her family contend with, regarding her choice to live and work in a country that experiences such unrest.

She thanked all of those who prayed for her during her time in captivity, and wants to assure the public that she is safe.