Yesterday The Irish Times reported that the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) dismissed a discrimination case taken by Dubliner Mark Savage against Seetec Employment and Skills Ireland.

The complaint centred on comments that Savage alleged were made to him by a Seetec employment advisor about the contents of his CV. Under the ‘Key Achievements’ section of his resumé, Savage wrote: “Standing up for and defending my religious beliefs which include that abortion on demand is evil and homosexuality is an intrinsic disorder inclined towards evil”.

Savage claimed that upon reading his comments, his Seetec employment advisor allegedly said “you can’t say that, employers are biased”.

This comment was discriminatory, argued Savage, and violated Section 21 of the Equal Status Act(s), as it meant he was being treated less favourably than other people on the ground of religion.

Seetec denied to the hearing that their advisor used those words, saying that the advisor had told him that by sharing his opinions on abortion and homosexuality he might influence a potential employer’s decision to invite him for interview.

Savage told the hearing that being told not to include his proudest achievements on his CV “caused him emotional upset and distress” adding that if a LGBT campaigner for marriage equality had included that on their CV, they wouldn’t have been treated in the same manner.

Ruling on the matter WRC Adjudication Officer Ian Barrett said that evidence did not support Savage’s claim that he was treated less favourably on the grounds of religion, and as such, the case could not proceed.

Savage lost a similar case in 2008 against a security firm claiming he suffered “sexual discrimination” when turned down for a job as a security guard because of his ponytail.

More recently Savage, of Swords, unsuccessfully petitioned Google and the Data Protection Commissioner to remove links to a Reddit thread characterising him as “Mark Savage – North County Dublin’s homophobic candidate”.

Savage stood for local election in 2014 on a platform which aimed to help parents and children “enjoy the amenity of Donabate beach without witnessing the lewd behaviour of Gay Perverts cavorting in flagrante on the beach in broad daylight”.