Across:
1 Shame (DEBASE) over (= reverse indicator) patch in the garden (patch/bed = DEB-) because (-AS-) of the last damage (the last ‘damagE’ = -E) (DEBASE),
4 Small (S-) problem of sensitivity for the princess (-PEA- from ‘The Princess and The Pea’) in the palace (-KING) (SPEAKING) doing the talking (SPEAKING),
9 Commit to paper (RECORD) at the end of 14 across (the end of ‘off the record’ = RECORD),
10 Is rocket (is rocket) salad (= anagram indicator) (is rocket = STOCKIER) comparatively heftier? (STOCKIER),
12 Where you’d expect to find lots of change (CASH BOXES), as American buck (CASH) fights in Ring (BOXES) (CASH BOXES),
13 Upsetting (= reverse indicator) part of the mask costume (part of the ‘maSK COStume’ = skcos = SOCKS) and foot warmers (SOCKS),
14 Confidence (confidence/secret = OFF THE RECORD) – it’s not for general consumption (OFF THE RECORD),
18 The policy taken by those in charge (OFFICIAL LINE) of licensed (OFFICIAL) bar (LINE) (OFFICIAL LINE),
21 Waste material (OFFAL) found at the bottom of 2 down (at the bottom of ‘backs off’ = OFF-) on a (-A-) lake (-L) (OFFAL),
22 Run a piece (run a piece) rewritten (= anagram indicator) (run a piece = EPICUREAN) by bon vivant (EPICUREAN),
24 Keep up (MAINTAIN) with important (MAIN-) Irish legend (An Táin = -TAIN) (MAINTAIN),
25 The foreign (the = LA-) director general (director general = -D -G) catches relative (MA-) (LAD MAG) with playboy (Playboy magazine = LAD MAG),
26 Coach (TRAIN) is fully prepared (SET) (TRAIN SET) and is on track for what any boy could accept for the present (TRAIN SET),
27 Most of (k) The Hill (‘peak’ without ‘k’ = PEA-) go to the local – head (local ‘head’ = -NUT) (PEANUT) barman probably provides more than one with a beer (PEANUT).
Down:
1 Credit or (credit or) freak out (= anagram indicator) (credit or = DIRECTOR) with one of those making a scene? (DIRECTOR),
2 Gives ground (BACKS OFF) to defenders substituted (BACKS OFF),
3 Abandon local (‘local’ abandon/cancel = SCRUB) small (S-) French vineyard (-CRU-) heading for bankruptcy (heading for ‘Bankruptcy’ = -B) (SCRUB),
5 Putin (Putin = PUT IN) protects American leader (‘American’ leader = A) and most of 13 across (most of ‘socks’ = SOCK) with information technology (IT) (PUT A SOCK IN IT) getting a restraining order (PUT A SOCK IN IT),
6 Playing (= anagram indicator) Lancaster (Lancaster = ANCESTRAL) is out of line (ANCESTRAL),
7 No term for mediocrity (no ‘term’ for ‘mediocrity’ = diociy = IDIOCY) of stupidity (IDIOCY),
8 Loud (GARISH) head barman (Attorney General = AG) knocks back (= reversal indicator) (AG = GA-) most of (i) the local whiskey (Irish) (‘Irish’ without ‘i’ = -RISH) (GARISH),
11 Running (EXERCISE) with the first Bush (the first ‘Bush’ = B-) for American president (Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower = -IKE), (EXERCISE BIKE) – one might be put on the spot to work out? (EXERCISE BIKE),
15 Alternative (variant spelling) pretentious (‘highfalutin’ / HIFAULTIN) hotel (H-) is initially (‘Is’ initially = -I-) to blame (-FAULT-) for not finishing (n) bar (‘inn’ without ‘n’ = -IN) (HIFAULTIN),
16 Flags unsporting behaviour (LINESMAN) by one of those responsible for Limerick (LINESMAN responsible limerick poem),
17 Guy (guy/male = HE-) Henry is central (‘heNry’ is central = - N) to absurd (= anagram indicator) thing (thing = NIGHT) (HEN NIGHT) for women only (HEN NIGHT),
19 Witty remark (BON MOT) on tomb (on tomb) out of place (= anagram indicator) (on tomb = BON MOT),
20 A (A-) short day (-FRI-) for accountant (-CA) (AFRICA) going around Serengeti (AFRICA),
23 Neighbours (UK-) lose the head (c) with lawsuit (‘case’ without ‘c’ = -ASE) (UKASE) with Fiat? (fiat/formal decree = UKASE).