THE grieving widow of a Newport man who fell 80ft from a motorway bridge has blasted the fine against his negligent employers as "an insult to his memory".

Yarm Road Ltd, of Hammersmith, west London, and Costain Ltd, of Maidenhead, Berkshire, were fined £500,000 and ordered to split prosecution costs of £525,000 having admitted breaching health and safety regulations at the Avonmouth Bridge site in Bristol.

Jeff Williams, (pictured) 42, of Llanthewy Road, Newport, and three workmates plummeted to their deaths on September 8, 1999, when the gantry under the bridge came off its rails.

Philip Mott, QC, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, told the court: "The lack of safety in design and construction from the start and the failure to react to incidents prior to the fatal accident is evidence of a blindness to basic health and safety principles of truly staggering proportions."

And a furious Dawn Williams last night branded the fines as "a disgrace and an insult" to her husband's memory.

She told the Argus: "I'm disgusted by it, pig sick to tell you the truth. These fines are an insult to my husband's memory. This is small change for these companies, who make millions in profit.

"I feel that we have let my husband down. The only thing that would have been good enough today would have been a big enough fine that would have sent out shock waves throughout the construction industry. I feel all the men died in vain."

Mrs Williams, who, with relatives of the three other victims is bringing civil proceedings against the companies, wants the law changed so bosses and directors are held personally liable for such events.

"I want the system changed so independent inspectors visit work sites and directors and companies are brought before criminal courts and can be charged with corporate manslaughter."

Mrs Williams described her husband as "a lovely man who was always smiling. Everyone liked him, he's a loss to the world."

And she said that Christmas without Mr Williams was a particularly hard time for her and her children, John, 21, Ceirun, 19, Maria, 17, and Vicki, 13.

"He was a big kid himself and my favourite photograph of him is of his last Christmas Day with us in 1998."