Sheik Man Haron Monis in Lakemba. Source: News Corp Australia

NSW bail laws are set to come under fresh scrutiny because the gunman was released from custody despite facing more than 40 violent offences.

Man Haron Monis, 50, first gained notoriety when he penned a series of grossly offensive letters to grieving families of several soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

He was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond for this last year.

But, within a year, he had been charged with being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife and more than 40 sex offences against several women.

Sheik Man Haron Monis. Source: News Limited

Noleen Hayson Pal, 30, was stabbed to death and set alight in April 2013 in a Werrington unit block in western Sydney.

Monis’s then partner, Amirah Droudis, 34, has been charged with her murder.

Monis had been released on bail in December last year on the accessory charge under the old bail laws.

Magistrate William Pierce said at the time the crown’s case was weak and that the pair did not represent a threat to the public. “If there is a threat, it was to this woman who was murdered,” Mr Pierce said.

When he reappeared in court in May and again in October this year over the fresh sexual assault offences, his bail was continued under the new laws.

Noleen Hayson Pal, the slain ex-wife of Lindt Cafe gunman Sheik Man Haron Monis, with her brother. Source: Facebook

Monis was deemed to pose an “unacceptable risk to interfering with witnesses or evidence” but that was said to be offset by tough conditions, including reporting daily to police.

The decision came amid outcry over the new bail regime within a month of it coming into effect in May after accused murderer Steven Frank Fesus and former bikie boss Mahmoud Mick Hawi were released from custody.

NSW Attorney-General Brad Hazzard said there were questions to be answered.

“We are asking state agencies and federal agencies to look very closely at how this offender slipped through the cracks,” he told reporters.

“How did this offender not come to the attention of state and federal agencies for more urgent action?”

NSW Premier Mike Baird attends a mass to pay respect to the victims. Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Sydneysiders are delivering bouquets of flowers to an ever-growing makeshift shrine on Martin Place not far from the Lindt cafe where barrister Katrina Dawson and shop manager Tori Johnson lost their lives in a violent end to a 17-hour siege early this morning.

Grief-stricken families and colleagues have expressed heartbreak at their loss.

“We are so proud of our beautiful boy Tori, gone from this earth but forever in our memories as the most amazing life partner, son and brother we could ever wish for,” the family of 34-year-old Mr Johnson said in a statement.

Ms Dawson, 38, was the mother of three young children as well as a talented commercial lawyer.

She was remembered as “one of our best and brightest” by NSW Bar Association president Jane Needham.

Her former school, the prestigious Ascham in Sydney’s east, said Katrina was much-loved and affectionately remembered.

“Our hearts go out to Katrina’s entire family, including her husband Paul, and her children, Chloe, Sasha, and Oliver,” head of school Andrew Powell said.

Sheik Man Haron Monis leaves Downing Centre Court. Source: News Limited

Monis, who held Ms Dawson and Mr Johnson hostage along with 15 others, was a 50-year-old self-styled Islamic cleric well known to police. He arrived in Australia as a refugee from Iran in 1996.

Ten hostages rescued from the cafe were recovering from their ordeal, including three women and a police officer who were treated in hospital for gunshot wounds.

The police officer suffered minor facial injuries from shotgun pellets and has been discharged.

Some details of rescued hostages have emerged, including 43-year-old Marcia Mikhael, who is reportedly awaiting surgery for a gunshot wound to the leg.

NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn said authorities are still looking into why Monis took over the cafe.

Man Haron Monis had been arrested for sexual and indecent assault. Source: Supplied

“This is a man who had a serious history of criminal offences and a history of violence,” she said.

Detectives from the homicide squad are leading the independent investigation with oversight from Professional Standards Command and the cafe site remains closed as investigators continue their work.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and NSW Premier Mike Baird joined Sydneysiders laying flowers at the makeshift memorial site in Martin Place.

Sheik Haron (also known as Man Monis) chained to a railing. Picture: Cameron Richardson Source: News Corp Australia