Although not wishing to express an opinion either way, the reason that legal aid has been granted is probably that the initial issue to be tried is whether the courts have any right to try them at all i.e is the matter covered by parliamentary privilege and therefore outside the scope of the courts. This will be decided by the High Court and, depending on the outcome, could well be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, which is going to prove very, very expensive. Of course we taxpayers must just grin and bear it.