Crossword Genius

Ring Republican leader to get Dole out for trial (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ordeal

'for trial' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'ring republican leader to get dole out' is the wordplay.
'ring' becomes 'O' (letter resembling a ring).
'leader' indicates taking the first letters.
'to get' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'dole out' becomes 'deal' (dealing is a kind of doling out).
The first letter of 'republican' is 'r'.
'o'+'r'+'deal'='ORDEAL'

(Other definitions for ordeal that I've seen before include "Horrible experience" , "Severe or trying experience" , "A tough time or hardship" , "A difficult and harrowing experience" , "Difficult and testing experience" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.
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