UPDATE: Farrell remains in custody despite being granted bail on child sex charges

FORMER Catholic priest John Farrell has been granted bail after being charged with more than 20 historic child sex offences, but he remains in custody after a court appearance on Tuesday.

Magistrate Les Mabbutt granted the 62-year-old bail in Sydney's Central Local Court, however this decision was stayed when the prosecution made a detention application.

Farrell will remain in custody for up three days until the matter is brought be the Supreme Court. 

Farrell, appeared in Wagga Wagga Local Court last Thursday after being charged with 18 counts of sexual assault and an act of indecency against a person aged under 16 and eight counts of sexual assault of a person under 16.

The charges relate to alleged incidents in northern NSW about 30 years ago. 

Farrell, who is living in Harden, was granted bail on a number of strict conditions, one of which was to report to Harden Police station once daily.

During last week’s court appearance in Wagga Wagga, an application for a non-publication order preventing details of the case being made public was made by barrister Matthew Hutchings. 

He said the type of charges laid against Farrell generated “vilification and outrage in the community”.

Mr Hutchings said this public response was likely to put his client’s safety at risk.

But the application was opposed by Wagga Wagga police prosecutor Kelly Huggett.

Sergeant Huggett appealed to Magistrate Erin Kennedy that the justice system should be open to the public.

“It is a matter of convenience for the accused to have a suppression in place,” Sergeant Huggett said.

Magistrate Kennedy said the matter required some time to consider the application, leaving the bench to make her decision. 

When she returned, she summed up both arguments before refusing the non-publication order request. 

She said there was strong public interest in open justice. 

Magistrate Kennedy said there was no evidence before the court to support the submission Farrell might be exposed to retaliation.

The matter will appear before Central Local Court again for mention on August 25.