PHILIPPA REYNOLDS, THE PSNI officer killed while on routine patrol in Derry over the weekend has been laid to rest at Carnmoney Cemetery in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim.

The 27-year-old was killed instantly after the patrol car she was in was hit by a stolen 4×4 jeep on the The Limavady Road  in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Constable Philippa Reynolds parents Mervyn and Dorothy walk behind her coffin at Mossley Methodist Church. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Hundreds of people turned out for the funeral today at Mossley Methodist Church in Newtownabbey, among the mourners were First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Officer Reynolds is survived by her father and mother Mervyn and Dorothy, sisters Nicola and Debra, brother-in-law Adam, niece and nephew Robyn and Luke, and boyfriend Niall.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness attend the the funeral of Constable Philippa Reynolds. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Before the funeral today, Chief Constable Matt Baggott and Chief Superintendent Stephen Cargin described her as “best of the best”:

This is a day of profound sadness and sorrow for Mervyn, Dorothy and the Reynolds family as they mourn the loss of their lovely daughter, Philippa. I know that the thoughts and prayers of huge numbers of people are with them and I hope they will take comfort from that.

It is a privilege for me, as Philippa’s Chief Constable, to pay tribute to a superb police officer and colleague. The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the finest Police Service in the world and Philippa was one of the best of the best. She was everything that the Police Service stands for, and wishes to be even better at, and she demonstrated daily the professionalism and dedication required to achieve this. She was an example of policing that is impartial and inspirational. She was compassionate, caring, courageous and she simply wanted to make lives better. She did that on many, many occasions.

Peace is being built through kindness and concern for others and Philippa has played a major role in the peacemaking process in the city of Derry.

We will not forget her, and my commitment to her family is that we will work even harder to be the Police Service that she stood for.

Read: Funeral of PSNI officer Philippa Reynolds in Newtownabbey today >