Paid interviews with the survivors of the Sydney siege should not be aired, a legal expert has told Sydney media.

Publicly broadcasting these first-hand accounts could interfere with the inquiry into the coronial inquest into the terrorist attack, former NSW coroner John Abernethy has told Fairfax Media.

• Martin Place siege should not be a money grab
• Survivors ‘shouldn’t sell story’, says former premier

“[The hostages] may embellish [their accounts] before the coroner, they may feel compelled to say what they said on television and it just loosens the whole thing. It runs a real risk that it’s not going to be the best evidence,” Mr Abernethy said.

Mr Abernethy said he would consider asking the courts to stop the interviews if he were still coroner.

Survivor Marcia Mikhael has reportedly been promised $300,000 for her interview, while John O’Brien is expected to be paid $100,000. At least four other hostages are believed to also have signed lucrative deals.

Former NSW public prosecutor Nicholas Cowdery agreed that the paid interviews would be “inappropriate” and may tempt the hostages to sensationalise their accounts.

“There’s a risk that [the hostages] will fill in gaps in their own direct knowledge so as to please the person who is paying for their account,” Mr Cowdery said.

The coronial inquest into the ordeal will begin on January 29.

The NSW Coroner’s Court is reportedly monitoring media coverage of the incident.