Philippa’s final act of kindness for her parents

It was the final act of kindness from the 27-year-old police constable who, along with her two others sisters Nicola and Debra, clubbed together to send her mother, Dorothy and her father Mervyn to the States.

Philippa who was a former pupil of Loanends Primary School was killed instantly when a stolen jeep smashed into a police car on the Limavady Road.

The former teacher from Crumlin had only joined the police force in 2011 and was described as a leading light and social butterfly with the Owls Ladies Hockey Club.

Philippa had been serving for just two years after joining the PSNI’s Foyle Response Team in 2011.

Antrim Mayor Roy Thompson, a neighbour of the Reynolds said, “This is tragedy for Philippa’s relations, her friends the police and the Ballyhill neighbourhood. On behalf of everyone in the neighbourhood I would extend my sympathies.

“This is dreadful news. Philippa attended Loanends Primary School and Antrim Grammar School where she was a star pupil. She was also a great hockey player and showed true dedication to the sport. I visited the family home to extend sincere condolences on behalf of the Borough and her family and friends are absolutely devastated at this great loss. I would also like to wish her two colleagues who were injured in the accident a speedy and full recovery.”

Councillor Mervyn Rea also extended his sympathy: “My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family. It is such a loss. Such madness, so unnecessary. This was a good young girl. She studied as a teacher and then went into the police doing good for the community. It is such a waste of a life in such horrific circumstances. It could have happened to anyone. My sympathies are with the entire family.”

Her commanding officer Stephen Cargin said, “Philippa was... in the prime of her life.”

“She was loved by her colleagues and in turn actually turned that love into the community. She did a job that she loved doing, previously a teacher who wanted to be a police officer who took on the job and gave 100 per cent enthusiastically in the short period of time she was with the PSNI.