Tributes are paid to ‘hero’ police officer Philippa

Philippa Reynolds, 27, touched many lives in such a short time, Debra Reynolds told funeral mourners at Mossley Methodist Church, last Wednesday, February 13.

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

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

Constable Reynolds, 27, was a back seat passenger in the unmarked police car that was struck by a stolen 4x4 vehicle in Londonderry in the early hours of the previous Saturday morning. Two men have been charged in connection with her death.

Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson, Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott, Stormont Justice Minister David Ford and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan joined her parents Mervyn and Dorothy and other sister Nicola McDonald at the service.

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.

PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said she was a superb officer, the best of the best. He added she was compassionate and caring and wanted to make lives better.

Mr Baggott said: “She was the embodiment of what policing aspires too. She wanted to make Londonderry/Derry a finer and safer place, working towards building peace in that city.”

Methodist minister Alan Lorimer said she was competitive and determined but a loyal confidante.

“She was the sort of friend who could hold on to confidences. These are the sort of friends you want,” he said.

Constable Reynolds was buried in Carnmoney Cemetery.