IRISH DAILY MAIL CROSSWORD

NO 15569

ACROSS 1 Hirst designed tops (‘less work’) – these tops? (1-6) 5 Dry former prime minister (not North) quit (6) 9 Friend imports revolutionary chopper (7) 10 Brutally, hounds welcome this cry (5-2) 11 Confess wife’s inside, working (3) 12 Turn up information that is inspiring society (11) 13 Fool engulfed by deep pit (5) 14 Stone thrower cast longish stone, missing one (9) 16 Curtain hides cool sleuth and his escape route? (9) 17 Bog spoils hotel (5) 19 Left paper lamenting death of missing posh celeb (7,4) 22 Neckwear for breakfast in bed primarily? (3) 23 Swine repeats brief call for help (2-3-2) 24 Chemical used in tests on mole (7) 26 Bumped into English soldiers shooting star (6) 27 Code in Parisian tomb (7) DOWN 1 Snake squeezes large cat first – fair game? (7) 2 He retains a racing-car key specially for cab (7,8) 3 A handful of very early cereal (3) 4 Street borders tiny course (5) 5 Stormy sea outside? Go to bed sombre (9) 6 Local lady accommodates Lily (5) 7 Big Brother lady wasted yen in blatant extortion (8,7) 8 Self-effacing majority touring Germany and Spain (6) 12 Stonecutter creates ‘Mother and Child’ (5) 14 Secure party men for opening (5,4) 15 On-line competitor beating American guards (5) 16 Duke and King receive a parent’s table linen perhaps (6) 18 Tabitha’s unusual natural environment (7) 20 At home with daughter, I start to examine small label (5) 21 Peter Sellers accepted part that’s succinct (5) 25 Line showing a regular curve principally (3)