Sister’s tribute to policewoman

Debra Reynolds choked back tears as she paid tribute to her best friend and soul mate.

“Never in my life would I think that I had to be the one saying goodbye,” she said.

“I will remember her beautiful smile forever, the baby of the family is gone, my daddy’s little girl,” she said.

A guard of honour was formed and her former colleagues carried her from the church in Newtownabbey to the lament of a PSNI piper. A police cap and white flowers were borne on top of her coffin.

Ms Reynolds recalled how any minor arguments were quickly forgiven and her sister loved music and nights out.

“Philippa held my hand through so much in life. In times that I needed her most she was there to carry me through no matter what,” she said.

She said the former teacher in Kilkeel, and geography student at Queen’s University, loved books. But she also referred to the keen hockey player’s whimsical side.

“I have never known anyone except my mum to love shoes so much,” she said.

She told friends and well-wishers she will never understand why God took her from the family at such a young age when she had so much to give.

“To know she touched so many people’s lives in such a short time is a great comfort to me,” she said. “She was a lover not a fighter.”

She said her sister was the happiest she had ever been, had a boyfriend Niall and never shied away from telling people she loved them.

“She was my hero, she was everything we wished she could be, she really was the wind beneath my wings.

“Now the world knows how wonderful she was and I will never forget her.”

The constable joined the police service two years ago. She was posted to Londonderry.

Sinn Fein mayor of the city, Kevin Campbell, was among mourners on Wednesday as a symbol of the North West’s sympathy.

PSNI Chief Constable Matt