Irish insurer Quinn-direct has announced that it made a pre-tax profit of £61m in the six months to June 2005 - an increase of 29% over the first half of 2004.

The insurer has a 15% share of the liability market and 14% of the Irish motor market. It says it now has more than 300,000 customers in Ireland and the UK.

Quinn-direct's 1,200 staff mainly work in Ireland, though it also has a Manchester office.

The company's UK aims are to grow liability and property business as well as its motor book, launched in February.

General manager Kevin Lunney said: "Our predominantly direct business model continues to be more efficient and cost-effective than traditional sales methods."