Hitman attacked on the day of trial

Daniel clan thug was due in court over claim he stabbed fellow con

- RORY CASSIDY

DRUG-DEALING gangland assassin James McDonald was attacked in prison on the day he was due to go on trial over a murder bid behind bars.

The hired hitman, who is serving a life sentence over the Applerow Motors shootings in 2006, was attacked within HMP Edinburgh last month.

We told yesterday how he was set upon days before fellow Daniel clan member Robert Daniel was also attacked in the jail, commonly known as Saughton prison.

We can now reveal that the attack on McDonald was carried out on the same day he had been due to appear in court over an alleged attempted murder.