A Court in Limerick can’t find a new judge – on a $200,000 a year salary.

The city’s District Court has been without a full-time judge since Tom O’Donnell was appointed to the Circuit Court and no one has come forward to replace him.

Judge O’Donnell was one of the busiest judges in Ireland and oversaw the vast majority of the 130,594 cases that came through Limerick’s district courts last year.

The huge workload compares to 1520,000 cases before three judges in Cork’s District Court and 66,000 before one judge in Galway.

The legal profession now fears that the sheer volume of cases is the reason that no applications have been received for the post.

“The perception is the judge’s job in Limerick is a very tough job with a heavy workload,” a solicitor based in the City told the Irish media.

“The sole responsibility for a judge in this job is just too much.”

Historically, District Judge positions are filled by solicitors in Ireland with a basic starting salary of $200,000.

Any appointment has to be recommended by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board  - but they have yet to be approached by any interested parties.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice said: “The Government will consider the matter further once the JAAB has made its recommendations to the minister.”