[3] MacGroarty became O'Sullivan's business partner for eight years and in 1919 he transferred to the bar where he practiced from the old Inns of Court building in Adelaide Street.

[3] At the 1929 election, MacGroarty, the Country and Progressive National Party candidate, defeated Labor's Myles Ferricks to win the seat of South Brisbane.

[4] He was immediately appointed attorney general and in his maiden speech he attracted controversy when, after being interjected, he stated that the Queensland Court of Industrial Arbitration would be "ringbarked" as soon as possible.

The latter was regarded as an attempt to protect public morals, but was seen by the Labor Party as a personal vendetta against Brisbane Truth newspaper.

[3] A former president of the Queensland Irish Association[3] and a member of the Johnsonian Club, MacGroarty died at South Brisbane in August 1971.