Tributes to Philippa
TRIBUTES have been paid to the “bubbly” and “beautiful” police constable who was killed while travelling on a routine patrol in the back of a police car in the early hours of Saturday.
Constable Philippa Reynolds died after the unmarked Vauxhall Vectra she was travelling in was in collision with a silver Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4, at the junction of the Limavady Road and Glendermott Road in Londonderry.
Two other police officers who were in the vehicle were also injured, though not severely.
The Nutts Corner girl - a former pupil of Loanends Primary School and Antrim Grammar School - joined the PSNI in February 2011, joining the Foyle Response Team in December of that year.
The 27-year-old had been a teacher before becoming a police officer, having obtained her PGCE from Liverpool Hope University in 2008. She lived in Coleraine.
The Mayor of Antrim, Councillor Roy Thompson, expressed his great sadness at the news of Philippa’s death.
He added: “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.”
Alderman Mervyn Rea, who lives near the family’s Crumlin home, said: “My heartfelt sympathy goes out to them – it’s an awful tragedy, especially the circumstances with the parents being on holiday.
“It’s such a sad loss and really in circumstances that shouldn’t have happened. Being somebody living so locally, I want to sympathise with the parents.”
South Antrim Sinn Féin MLA, Mitchel McLaughlin, also extended his condolences to the family and colleagues of Constable Reynolds.
Mr McLaughlin said: “I extend my sincere condolences to the family and colleagues of Philippa Reynolds, the young policewomen who killed in Saturday morning’s collision with a stolen vehicle in Derry’s Waterside.
“And I urge anyone who can assist the investigation into this tragic event to contact the the PSNI with the information.”
Justice Minister and South Antrim MLA David Ford paid tribute to Constable Philippa Reynolds in the Assembly on Monday.
“Philippa died doing the job she loved, working on behalf of everyone in this community,” Mr Ford said.
He added: “I have spoken over the weekend to the Chief Constable, the Deputy Chief Constable and other officers in Belfast and Strand Road.
“It was absolutely clear that this tragic death has deeply affected Philippa’s police colleagues. Yet it was also clear, even in the trauma of Saturday morning, that there was a resilience and strong determination to continue to do their duty and make Northern Ireland safer for all of us.
“The Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter, both asked me to pass on their condolences which I did on Saturday.
“On behalf of the wider Justice family, as well as my Party colleagues, I express my sympathy to Philippa’s family and colleagues and assure them that they are in our thoughts and prayers.”
Chief Superintendent Stephen Cargin, who was Ms Reynolds’ commander, described her as a “beautiful, friendly, bubbly officer, one of the most enthusiastic officers in the prime of her life”.
She was “someone who wanted to be a police officer, who had been a teacher and wanted to change profession,” he said.
He added: “Her colleagues are devastated, as I am as her commander, as we all are as a police service. My sincerest condolences go out to the Reynolds family at this tragic time.”
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Weather for Antrim
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
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Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
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