Background
McGrail was born on September 23, 1948 in Melrose, Massachusetts.
McGrail was born on September 23, 1948 in Melrose, Massachusetts.
He graduated from Wakefield Memorial High School, Northeastern University, and Suffolk University Law School.
McGrail served on the Wakefield, Massachusetts Board of Selectmen from 1971 to 1973. From 1973 to 1977 he represented the 4th Middlesex District in the Massachusetts Senate. In 1976 he was a candidate for the 7th congressional district seat previously held by Torbert Macdonald.
In 1986 McGrail challenged incumbent Middlesex District Attorney Scott Harshbarger in the Democratic primary.
He lost 76 percent to 24 percent. In 1990 McGrail ran for the Massachusetts Senate seat in the Middlesex and Essex district.
He lost in the Democratic primary to Mike Festa.