Crossword Genius

Irish republican breaking law over in Merseyside location (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

wirral

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'merseyside location' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'irish republican breaking law over' is the wordplay.
'irish' becomes 'IR' (abbreviation).
'republican' becomes 'R' (political abbreviation).
'breaking' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'over' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'law' reversed gives 'wal'.
'ir'+'r'='irr'
'irr' inserted inside 'wal' is 'WIRRAL'.

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for wirral that I've seen before include "Peninsula between the Mersey and the Dee" , "Peninsula lying opposite Liverpool" , "Area of Cheshire" , "The --, NW England peninsula" , "Peninsula where Birkenhead is situated" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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