Across:
1 Money orders (DRAFTS) passed over the counter in public houses (DRAFTS),
4 In my opinion (AS I SEE IT), other spies can’t get their heads around my view (AS I SEE IT),
9 Cuts corners (SKIMPS) to quickly read (SKIM-) front page (front ‘page’ = -P-) and sports on the back (‘sports’ on the back = -S) (SKIMPS),
10 Ring (O-) party (Fianna Fáil = -FF-) for the sales team (-PITCH) (OFF-PITCH) in the wrong tone (OFF-PITCH),
12 Jay’s (BIRD’S) lodge (NEST) (BIRD’S NEST) by Swift’s home (BIRD’S NEST),
13 In autumn (OCT-), get final score (final ‘score’ = E-) for tenor (-T) (OCTET) with musicians (OCTET),
14 Diet perhaps (WEIGHT LIFTER) for Olympic athlete with a lot on his shoulders (WEIGHTLIFTER),
18 Common-or-garden (PLAIN) college (C-) and seedy (= anagram indicator) hostel (hostel = -LOTHES) (PLAIN CLOTHES) designed for those concealing identity (PLAIN CLOTHES),
21 Deception? No need (‘deception’ no ‘need’ = cptio = TOPIC) to discuss it! (TOPIC),
22 Goes without saying (UNOPPOSED), open up sod (open up sod = UNOPPOSED) another way (= anagram indicator),
24 Tracks (CIRCUITS) where those acting the clown are (CIRCU-S) by ringing the tech team (information technology = -IT-) (CIRCUITS),
25 In a manner of speaking, pretentious type (LA-DI-DA) of young man (lad = LA-D-) from mythical Greek mountain (Mount Ida = associated with Zeus =-I-DA) (LA-DI-DA),
26 Old suite (old suite = SOLITIDE) designed for retirement (SOLITUDE),
27 Awful (= anagram indicator) moan (moan = MAN-O-) about head gardener (head ‘gardener’ = -G-) and endless (end ‘less’ = -S) (MANGOS) tropical fruits (MANGOS).
Down:
1 Check for prints (DUST) and blood first (‘blood’ first = B-) on one of those likely to take flight (-OWL) (DUST BOWL) to arid region (DUST BOWL),
2 A (A-) police department (-CID) is ahead of that (= positional indicator) shower (RAIN) (ACID RAIN) that’s a danger to the environment (ACID RAIN),
3 A pest (a pest = TAPES) working (= anagram indicator) with bands (strings/strips = TAPES),
5 Security (SAFETY) on strand (FACTOR) (SAFETY FACTOR) needs to be assessed before taking risks (SAFETY FACTOR),
6 Hesitant agreement (SUPPOSE SO), I dare say (SUPPOSE), from school (S-) means nothing (-O) (SUPPOSE SO),
7 Grounds (ESTATE) for English (E-) to say it (-STATE) (ESTATE),
8 Car (Model T-) for travelling (= anagram indicator) Haiti (Haiti = -AHITI) (TAHITI) – an old French colony (TAHITI is an old French colony),
11 Do you need this to reach Irish Water (WELL -) to locate (SITUATE-) department (-D) (WELL-SITUATED) on a great site? (WELL-SITUATED),
15 What those on the bench could do (HOLD COURT) to be the centre of attention? (HOLD COURT),
16 Working illegally on small screen (PHISHING) and casting (“fishing” = “PHISHING”) on the radio (= homophone indicator),
17 Chopped (= anagram indicator) cedars (cedars = -SED CAR-) in America (U- -S) (USED CARS) sold in lots in New York (USED CARS sold in car lots in New York),
19 Report (= homophone indicator) jerk (“tic” = “tick” = -TICK-) in boat (S-S) (STICKS) clubs (clubs/rods = STICKS),
20 Reviews (= reversal indicator) Latvia’s (LAs = S-AL) coverage of Split (rip = -PIR-) (SPIRAL) in spring (spring = SPIRAL),
23 La Paz (La Paz = PLAZA) modelled (= anagram indicator) on Spanish square (PLAZA).