BARE BONES

Our Bare Bones Crossword is unique because you have to complete the grid – numbers and squares – as well. We have inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going. The crossword has a four-way symmetry: both top and bottom and left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away. There is a prize of a Collins Pocket Thesaurus. Send your solution to: Bare Bones Puzzle No.587, The Irish Mail on Sunday, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Entries must arrive by Friday (no photocopies). No.585 winner: Eileen McDowell, Ballymena, Co. Antrim. No.586 winner: Anne Jordan, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare.

Across

1 Deal with politician’s fourth angry speech 4 Use of a needle can cause pain 9 The French husband has space to stretch out 12 Youngster has a way to criticise harshly 14 Time to apply silver to the end 15 Chap discovered in feline swindle 16 Pen with key and sponge 17 Loss of memory is a mean malfunction 18 Bright light gets school in real trouble 20 Bishop trained Mary to be extremely foolish 22 Term of respect, back in prison 23 Second queen promises not to be frivolous 25 First woman to review rent for competitive rider 27 Often anticipating getting a lodger 28 Take cover in ruins, wasting energy

Down

2 Remove front of one fireplace 3 Small group has turn during party 5 Drink of character, say 6 Vegetable is burnt, by the sound of it 7 Dark table to mark as unacceptable 8 Determined to get a road to balance 10 Performing a trio composed for province 11 Graduate sends treatment for mental illness 12 Garland certain to provide breathing space 13 Horse taking a taxi – that’s quite disturbing 19 Wait to play the first shot 21 Blade that turns both ways 24 Run off to get a receptacle 26 Advantaged with transport