A public inquiry into why Man Haron Monis was on bail at the time of the Lindt cafe siege – despite facing serious criminal charges – has been prevented from examining crucial communications between solicitors and police, after they were found to be privileged legal documents.

In a decision that may make it impossible to fully answer some of the key questions from the December 2014 incident, the NSW Coroner has largely upheld an application by the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions to exclude the documents from the coronial inquiry.

'Dangerous psychopath': Man Haron Monis.

Coroner Michael Barnes upheld the DPP's application for 62 of the 74 disputed documents or sets of documents.

They are understood to include discussions between police and DPP solicitors before the siege about appealing Monis' release on bail in late 2013 when he was charged with accessory to murder.