Across:
8 That man (HE-) from old police force (Royal Irish Constabulary = RIC = -R-IC) capturing ring (-O-) (HEROIC) is deserving of a medal (HEROIC),
9 Talk (DIALOGUE) the talk? (DIALOGUE),
10 Serious lapses (SINS) by borderline characters in Simpsons (borderline characters in ‘SImpsoNS = SINS),
11 Fail to remember (DRAW A BLANK) Mark out (mark out = DRAW) to get American (A) to ignore local (ignore ‘locally’ = BLANK) (DRAW A BLANK),
12 Network (WEB-) mostly (p) for soldiers (‘camp’ without ‘p’ = -CAM) (WEBCAM) bringing others to view the site (WEBCAM),
14 Romantic partner (lover) hasn’t got a starter (l) (‘lover’ without ‘l’ = OVER-) – one of those in the kitchen (-COOK) (OVERCOOK) put it in the oven for too long (OVERCOOK),
15 Has a job marketing (PUBLIC RELATIONS) online family perhaps (PUBLIC RELATIONS),
18 Fruits (APRICOTS) baked (= anagram indicator) to a crisp (to a crisp = APRICOTS),
20 The wrong type (SINNER) of tennis Pro has no pot (‘tennis pro’ has no ‘pot’ = ennisr = SINNER),
22 Flower (River PO-) from the foreign (the = -LA-) revolution (-RISING) (POLARISING) is dividing opinion (POLARISING),
24 Ron from Newport (‘Ron’ from ‘Newport’ = ewpt = WEPT) broke down (WEPT),
25 Oriental (oriental) boss (= anagram indicator) (oriental = RELATION) has links to La Familia (RELATION),
26 Lost (-L-) in cut (= anagram indicator) reeds (reeds = E-DERS) (ELDERS) or in the forest (ELDERS).
Down:
1 Little (PETITE) exercise (PE-) for mousey type (-TIT- mouse) with energy (-E) (PETITE),
2 The best (TOPS) banks to take steps (banks ‘TO take stePS’ = TOPS),
3 Fellow (ACADEMIC) produced a (A-) computer-aided design (computer-aided design = -CAD-) to train (= anagram indicator) mice (mice = -EMIC) (ACADEMIC),
4 Thought (IDEA) up (= reverse indicator) in orthopaedics (in ‘orthopAEDIcs’ = aedi = IDEA),
5 Parents (Da + Ma = DAMA-), for example (e.g.), upset (= reversal indicator) (eg = -GE) (DAMAGE) by vandalism (DAMAGE),
6 Kitty (COLLECTION) Garner (garner/gather = COLLECT-) is charged (-ION) (COLLECTION),
7 Chance to play (TURN) for the county? (DOWN) (TURN DOWN) No thanks! (TURN DOWN),
13 Words to describe 24-hours (CALL IT A DAY) in a Bandon place of work (abandon place of work = CALL IT A DAY),
14 Launches (OPENS) tirade out of desperation (‘tirade’ out of ‘desperation’ = speon = OPENS),
16 It’s yet to be confirmed (UNPROVEN) a foreign (a = UN-) professional (pro) isn’t finished (o) (‘pro’ without ‘o’ = -PR-) on range (-OVEN) (UNPROVEN),
17 Gave out (ASSIGNED) to American (A-) linked to unreliable (= anagram indicator) designs (designs = -SSIGNED) (ASSIGNED),
19 Where it begins (ORIGIN) to root (ORIGIN),
21 Motorway (-M-) parking (-P-) in this country (E-IRE) (EMPIRE) is big business (EMPIRE),
23 Tee off in tense (‘tee’ off ‘intense’ = inns = INNS), rustic retreats (INNS),
24 Irish writer (Wilde) lost heart (l) (‘wilde’ without ‘l’ = WIDE) to broad (broad = WIDE).