SOCIALIST TD Clare Daly was back behind the wheel of her car after being arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

THE embattled politician refused to comment on the incident today as she drove away from her Dublin home.

She has admitted to taking hot whiskey for a cold before getting into her car yesterday.

Deputy Daly was stopped by gardai on the South Circular Road after making an illegal turn at 12.15am.

She did not provide a breath sample to gardai but agreed to provide a urine sample when she was taken to Kilmainham Garda Station. This is now undergoing analysis to determine if Daly was over the drink-drive limit.

When the Herald called to her house today, a man answered the door and said she was not in.

He then drove her car into the driveway close to the front door, and blocked a photographer as Daly jumped into the car and left the estate.

The Dublin North TD has been at the forefront of a recent high-profile campaign highlighting the alleged quashing of penalty points for motorists by garda officers.

She now has to wait to see whether she is to be charged with a drink-driving offence.

Daly was stopped by gardai after taking what was claimed to be an illegal right turn.

Arrested

The crew of a passing patrol car flagged down her vehicle.

One of the gardai believed that she had been drinking and she was asked to undergo an breath test at the side of the road.

It is understood she was unable to take the breath test and opted to provide a urine sample.

She was arrested and brought to the garda station, where she provided a sample.

Daly said she was driving in an area of south Dublin that was unfamiliar to her and had taken an illegal turn. This led to her being stopped.

"I had been with family and had been given a hot whiskey for a cold. If that brought me over the limit then that's obviously a very serious mistake on my part and one that I take full responsibility for," Daly told RTE News.

"I am a little bit surprised that garda authorities released this information without any charges being brought or any confirmation of me being over the limit," she added.

cfeehan@herald.ie