A local French cop follows criminal for time in The Troubles (8)
I believe the answer is:
conflict
'a local' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'french cop follows criminal for time in the troubles' is the wordplay.
'french cop' becomes 'flic' (I've seen this in another clue).
'follows' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'criminal' becomes 'con' (abbreviation for 'convict').
'for' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'time in the troubles' becomes 't' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'flic' put after 'con' is 'conflic'.
'conflic'+'t'='CONFLICT'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for conflict that I've seen before include "Clash between two opposing groups" , "Differ" , "Clash, discord" , "Discord, warfare" , "Difference of opinion, dispute" .)