Across:
1 Beastly type (MU-LE) rings party (Fianna Fáil = -FF-) (MUFFLE) to reduce sound (MUFFLE),
4 It’s more open (freer = FREE -R) around Belgium (BE-) taking ecstasy (-E-) (FREE BEER), as it’s on the house (FREE BEER),
9 Tiptoes away from metropolitans (‘tiptoes’ away from ‘metropolitans’ = mrolan = NORMAL) as expected (NORMAL),
10 Old Bob (old ‘bob’ = shilling = S-) can be woefully (= anagram indicator) cross (cross = -C-SSOR-) about one (-I-) skinhead (‘Skin’ head = -S) (SCISSORS) employed by the barbers (SCISSORS),
12 Supporter (fan = F- -AN) admits losing the head (c), shedding tears (‘crying’ without ‘c’ = -RYING) and starting punch-up (starting ‘Punch-up’ = P-) (FRYING PAN) with one employed on the range (FRYING PAN),
13 It is missing from violent (‘it’ is missing from ‘violent’ = volen = NOVEL) piece of fiction (NOVEL),
14 Minister (SHEPHERD-) almost (s) spies (‘spies’ without ‘s’ = -S PIE) (SHEPHERD’S PIE) what could be a hearty dinner (SHEPHERD’S PIE),
18 One of those in 27 across (FOOTBALL CLUB is in ‘league’) from Liverpool, for instance (FOOTBALL CLUB),
21 Africans dismiss ANC (‘Africans’ dismiss ‘ANC’ = frias = FARSI), in a manner of speaking (FARSI),
22 Giving out (share / ALLOTMENT) to Grant (grant = ALLOT-) and guys (-MEN-) getting time (-T) (ALLOTMENT),
24 Importance (EMPHASIS) of hams, pies (hams, pies), bananas (= anagram indicator) (hams, pies = EMPHASIS),
25 Relative (MA-) is the first murderer (Cain) making a comeback (= reversal indicator) (Cain = -NIAC) (MANIAC) in Psycho (MANIAC),
26 Puts away (DEPOSITS) magazine (magazine / military store = depot = DEPO-T-) admitting review (= reversal indicator) is (is = -SI-) endless (end ‘lesS’ = -S) (DEPOSITS),
27 Left (L-) sweetheart (‘swEet’ heart = -E-) with malaria (-AGUE) (LEAGUE) in lodge (LEAGUE).
Down:
1 One of those in The Abbey (MONK-) cast (-FISH) (MONKFISH) is on a pescatarian diet (MONKFISH),
2 Running between The Banks (FERRY-) for the workers (-MEN) (FERRYMEN) working overseas (FERRYMEN),
3 Get wind of (LEARN) tip (lean = LEA-N) around first race (first ‘Race’ = -R-) (LEARN),
5 Running fast (RACING) with both feet on the ground (STABLE) (RACING STABLE) prepares the runners, of course, carrying weight perhaps (RACING STABLE),
6 Heard (= homophone indicator) eau de cologne (‘scent’ = ‘sent’ = -SENT-) found in another (= anagram indicator) aisle (aisle = ES-IAL) (ESSENTIAL) is a must-have (ESSENTIAL),
7 Transfer Power (transfer power = devolve) without an introductory letter (d) (‘devolve’ without ‘d’ = EVOLVE) to make progress (EVOLVE),
8 Take stock (take stock/cattle = RUSTLE) of awful (= anagram indicator) result (result = RUSTLE),
11 Drink (SPIRIT-) upsets (= reversal indicator) precious type (AU = -UA-) from group (-LIST) (SPIRITUALIST) working as an intermediary of late (SPIRITUALIST),
15 Those causing trouble (HOOLIGANS) all turned up (= reversal indicator) – an unexpected problem (snag = -GANS) for single (-I-) gents (loo = -OOL-) having second thoughts (second ‘tHoughts’ = -H) (HOOLIGANS),
16 Short (FLEETING) brief? (FLEETING),
17 Bar (OBSTACLE) by college (-C-) in Oblates’ (Oblates) complex (= anagram indicator) (Oblates = OBSTA-LE) (OBSTACLE),
19 Ruffle someone’s feathers (OFFEND) by not working (OFF-) on conclusion (-END) (OFFEND),
20 Expose lie (TRIP UP) in rising (= reversal indicator) place (put = T- UP) around Split (split/tear = -RIP) (TRIP UP),
23 Characters in Cosa Nostra developed (characters in ‘cosa nosTRA DEveloped’ = TRADE) a line of work (TRADE).