CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Old U.S. general welcomes large group (7) 5 Likely to be dependable without engineers (6) 9 Secure old wheels in bundle (7) 10 It was read out to mob in port with discretion (4,3) 11 Old queen offers little resistance (3) 12 Frequent sickies? It’s been same in different places (11) 13 Origin of headache? Mistakes union introduced (5) 14 Where to get a cagoule designed to save time? (9) 16 Expect Ireland to harbour no pet hate (4,5) 17 Arch university student cutting tax (5) 19 Are things amended by editor needing glasses? (4-7) 22 Undermine fool (3) 23 Excellent bird close to front in African city (7) 24 Selfish person, say, is involved in far too much (7) 26 It separates chambers and puts me off (6) 27 Coach, one of two athlete runs in (7)

DOWN

1 The godly support business in great numbers (7) 2 Reserved 4 in a foreign display (15) 3 Nearly use horn as well (3) 4 Dissolute types are trained to guard king and son (5) 5 Ogler cleverly retains clear view using these? (9) 6 What’s all this fuss about love? (5) 7 Interviewer often puts this first item in exam (7,8) 8 Items strewn around rear of city block (6) 12 Arab boy’s crime (5) 14 Item in kitchen roughly filling in centimetres (9) 15 Fifty-four papers, discoloured (5) 16 Disallow an ace that’s part of hand (6) 18 Tense priest irritated adviser on course (7) 20 Solicitor goes after small porter (5) 21 Burglary made up by the newspaper (5) 25 A group of innovative cells (3)