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I have a full grid.
I have the 6 affected words.
I have the 9 letter word to be highlighted.

But do not understand the connection.

1. Three words modified are at 8d, 23a and 31a.

2. The words without def are at 3d, 19d, 14a.

Why does the first set suggest victims?

Why the second set is a result of his sins?

Buttercup or Porridge. What is the connection?

I am confused.
( I do not submit EV or IQ).

Thanks.

Sunray, you've got the sets the wrong way round.

The words without definition definitely suggest the victims - one word connects them all. I'm sure you've considered it, so check Chambers. Once you have that confirmed, you should see what constitutes the modifications - it's all quite logical.

Thanks malone.
Haven't thought of the word connecting Pillowcase, Press and Barley.

Will think about it.

They are listed under three separate headwords in Chambers, all having the same (four-letter) spelling although the pronunciation varies.

Sunray, I thought you'd considered the word as you mentioned Porridge...(and 31 A was a big pointer...)

Thank you malone and spoffy for leading me to the end.

Eating porridge, breaking chair, sleeping in bed were big hints I missed.

The four letter word was obvious.
Did not know that the word also meant Pillowcase and Barley. Until I checked TCD.

Glad you got there, Sunray. It wasn't necessary to know it all - I initially finished this without working through all the aspects. The puzzle was quite clever, but it didn't hold totally together for me.

All done except that I cannot parse 25 down, even though I am fairly confident that I have the right answer (a snooker connection).

(O HST ('of high-speed train')) in ('quelled by', ie crushed by) TOP ('better'), all reversed ('wheels', ie changes direction).

Thanks Spoffy. It was the O for OF which I didn't see, which left me with TOOP, which didn't work.